You could call it the Tale of two trials:

With the extradition of an Indian Nikhil Gupta to the US, and the arrest of 4 Indians in Canada, India is expected to face a number of questions over its operations on targeting Khalistani separatists in the west.

This week marked many anniversaries

– A year since Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist wanted on terror charges in India, was gunned down outside a gurudwara in Canada’s Surrey

– A year since the US FBI and Drug Enforcement Agency stopped what it calls an assassination plot under way against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York

– And a year since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US

This week also saw a flurry of activity linked to those 3 events:

1. PM Modi met US President Biden, a brief exchange on the side-lines of the G7 in Italy, the first time they met since the FBI filed charges in the Pannun case accusing Indian security officials for the Pannun plot

2. Modi also met Canadian PM Trudeau a much frostier exchange, the first time they met since Trudeau went public in parliament with accusations against Indian officials in the Nijjar killing

3. Next an announcement that Nikhil Gupta, the man wanted in the Pannun plot case, had been extradited to the US from the Czech Republic and produced in court- indicating a trial is likely to begin in that case

4. US Congressman, including Democrat Bernie Sanders wrote to US Secretary of State Blinken saying that they were very concerned by the allegations they called credible, and want a briefing by the Department and follow up action against India.

5. After cancelling twice this year, US NSA Jake Sullivan landed in India- for his first such meetings since the US went public with its charges against India- he met NSA Ajit Doval, EAM S. Jaishankar and even PM Modi. No public statements were made on the issue, as the two sides met ostensibly to discuss iCET review and technological issues.

6. Back to Canada- and the entire Parliament there decided to marks a year since Nijjar’s killing by holding a moment of silence for him, certainly unusual given the charges against him in India, while Nijjar supporters took out rallies. India countered by announcing a memorial this weekend for those who died on board the Air India Kanishka flight in 1985- an act of Khalistani terrorism

7. Meanwhile Australia’s public broadcaster released a documentary that not only revealed the “nest of spies” case- where 4 Indian diplomats were expelled for spying in 2020, linking their activities to surveillance of Khalistani separatists in Australia, but also spoke about political interference in Australia by groups connected to the ruling BJP. And remember German courts have already convicted 3 for espionage on Sikh groups there in 2020.

Diplomatic Impact

1. The charges have taken a wrecking ball to the India-Canada relationship- it is unlikely these can recover anytime soon

2. They have put a strain on the India-US relationship, even if the governments still have deep cooperation- the impact on intelligence cooperation, legal cooperation and the increasingly concerned voices from the US Congress will hamper ties

3. The accusation by US Congressmen of Transnational repression is more serious in the long term, as it

-Categorises India along with US enemies like Russia, China and Iran

-Impacts India’s image as a democracy

-Could open India to punitive action, including withholding of defence supplies

Challenges ahead for Indian diplomacy

 1. Prepare for the trial revelations

2. Conclude India’s High-Level enquiry

3. Cooperate on Canadian investigation if proof provided

4. Proving charge that the Khalistani separatists on India’s terror lists are actually wanted to violent acts and not dissidents- and pursue extradition requests

WV Take: Regardless of what is proven in court, it is clear that India has been put in the dock because of the perception that its intelligence agencies have overreached in their operations, particularly when it comes to friendly countries and strategic partners. The charges of violating international rules and transnational repression are not to be taken lightly, as these don’t just have a bearing on India’s image, but can severely curtail the work of India’s diplomats and missions worldwide, and damage bilateral ties irreparably.

WV Reading Recommendations

1. RAW : A HISTORY OF INDIA’S COVERT OPERATIONS by Yatish Yadav

2. Blood For Blood – 50 years of the Global Khalistani Project by Terry Milewski

3. SIKH SEPARATISM: A History of Conflicts by Rajesh Singh

4. Transnational Repression in the Age of Globalisation by Dana Moss and Saipira Furstenberg, and one coming soon called Transnational Repression and Extrajudicial Killings by Marty Gitlin

5.The Unending Game: A Former R&AW Chief’s Insights into Espionage by Vikram Sood and The Ultimate Goal

Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma. Photo: www.hciottawa.gov.in

Amidst the diplomatic strain in India-Canada relations, India’s envoy here has warned that the Sikh separatist groups in Canada were crossing “a big red line” that New Delhi sees as a matter of national security and of the country’s territorial integrity.

Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma said this on May 7 in his first public remarks since three Indian nationals accused of killing Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year were arrested and produced before a court by Canadian police.

Mr. Verma seemed to link the case to domestic crime, CTV News reported.

He also warned that Sikh groups in Canada who call for the separation of their homeland from India are crossing “a big red line” that New Delhi sees as a matter of national security.

“Indians will decide the fate of India, not the foreigners,” Mr. Verma told the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations, a prominent think-tank.

He also told the Council that relations between India and Canada are positive overall despite “a lot of noise”.

Mr. Verma also said that the two countries are “trying to resolve this issue”. “We are ready to sit down at the table any day, and we are doing that,” he said.

Mr. Verma said the deeper problems underneath the recent “negative” developments have to do with Canada’s misunderstanding of “decades-old issues,” which he blames Canadians of Indian origin for resurfacing.

He said his chief concern is “national-security threats emanating from the land of Canada”, noting that India does not recognise dual nationality, so anyone who emigrates is considered a foreigner.

“Foreigners having, if I can call it, [an] evil eye on the territorial integrity of India — that is a big red line for us,” he said.

He did not specify whether he was referring to foreigners being involved in the Nijjar case or the issue of Sikh separatism more broadly, the report said.

On May 7, India told Canada that celebration and glorification of violence should not be a part of any civilised society. Democratic countries which respect the rule of law should not allow intimidation by radical elements in the name of freedom of expression.

“We continue to remain concerned about the security of our diplomatic representatives in Canada and expect the Government of Canada to ensure that they are able to carry out their responsibilities without fear,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement in response to the violent imagery being used by extremist elements in Canada against India’s political leadership.

“We again call upon the Government of Canada to stop providing criminal and secessionist elements a safe haven and political space in Canada,” the MEA spokesperson said in New Delhi.

Earlier on May 7, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stood by allegations that the Indian government was complicit in the slaying of Nijjar last year.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023.

The killing sparked a wave of protests, with some Sikh groups circulating posters that threatened Indian diplomats in Canada by name.

Ms. Joly said her goal is still to conduct diplomacy with India in private.

She said she would let the police investigate instead of providing any new commentary on the case.

“We stand by the allegations that a Canadian was killed on Canadian soil by Indian agents,” Ms. Joly said on Parliament Hill.

“The investigation by the RCMP is being done. I won’t further comment and no other officials from our government will further comment,” she said, referring to the ongoing probe by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Meanwhile, Mr. Verma also mentioned “so many positive things” happening in the relationship between India and Canada.

He noted the annual value of two-way trade is 26 billion Canadian dollars, and in the past 11 months, there has been a 75% jump in Canadian lentil exports and a 21% increase in Indian-prepared medicines reaching Canada.

On May 7, the group Sikhs for Justice called for Mr. Verma’s speech to be cancelled, citing the Nijjar case and allegations of foreign interference by India.

New Delhi:

The centre today said that no international norms were violated in India seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. The statement came just hours after Canada withdrew 41 diplomats accusing India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

“We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

“The state of our bilateral relations, the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa,” it added.

Earlier today, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly while announcing the departure of diplomats had said, “I can confirm that India has formally conveyed its plan to unethically remove diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in Delhi by tomorrow, October 20. This means 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunity stripped on an arbitrary date. And this would put their personal safety at risk.

“Immunities allow diplomats to do their work without fear of reprisal or arrests from the country they’re in. They are a fundamental principle of diplomacy and this is a two-way street. They only work if every country abides by the rules. A unilateral revocation of diplomatic privilege and immunities is contrary to international law. It is a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and threatening to do so is unreasonable and escalatory,” she said.

Canada also paused all in-person services at the consulates in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Bengaluru and urged its citizens in these three cities to exercise caution. All Canadians in India have been asked to contact the High Commission in New Delhi in case they need assistance.

India last month asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited what he said was credible evidence of a potential link between Indian agents and the murder of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India denies any connection to the shooting outside a Sikh temple in June.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Washington.
| Photo Credit: AP

The Canadian allegations regarding India’s involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader are “serious” and need to be investigated fully, the White House has said.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

The claims made by Canada were discussed when visiting External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met here last week, John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House told reporters at a news conference here.

“The issue was discussed. We’ll certainly leave it to those two countries to talk about their bilateral relationship,” Mr. Kirby said in response to a question.

“We’ve been clear, these allegations are serious, they need to be fully investigated and of course, as we’ve said before, we urge India to participate actively in that investigation,” Mr. Kirby said.

State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at a separate news conference that it’s critical that Canada’s investigation proceeds and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

“We also have, as we’ve previously said publicly and privately, urged the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation and cooperate in those efforts,” he said.

The U.S., he said, has seen the reports on the diplomatic staffing levels for the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi.

“But I don’t have anything further to offer on those reports and certainly don’t want to get into hypotheticals and take this process one step at a time. As it relates to our Indo-Pacific strategy and the focus that we continue to place on the region, that effort and that line of work is going to continue,” he said.

“With India, we are partners with them in the Quad and in many others, and we continue to work with them and other countries in the region on a number of important issues.

“But as I said, we take these allegations very seriously and we continue to not just work closely with our Canadian partners but have publicly and privately urged the Indian government to cooperate with Canada,” Mr. Patel said.

File photo:- Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, left, walks past Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s cremation site, during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, on September 10, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Sean Kilpatrick

The story so far: The current strain in diplomatic relations between Canada and India has raised concerns about the impact spiralling onto commercial and economic spheres of cooperation. Negotiations towards the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), which was to serve as an early transitional step towards the larger Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) now stand “paused.” This was widely expected to be sealed in a trade mission that was expected to arrive in India this October — now cancelled. Further concerns relate to the longer-term impact on the larger commercial and economic sphere should relations further deteriorate.

How significant is the trade relationship between the two countries?  

As per the Ministry of Commerce’s TradeStat database, in FY 2022-23, Canada was India’s 35th largest trading partner overall.

Further, as put forth in an earlier joint statement following the sixth Ministerial Dialogue on Trade & Investment (MDTI) in Ottawa in May, Canada-India bilateral trade in goods reached C$12 billion in 2022, growing 57% on a year-over-year basis; of this, the bilateral services trade contributed C8.9 billion to the overall figure.

According to Mohit Singla, Chairman at the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) the trade between the countries is “pretty balanced.” He elaborates that Canada is ranked 14th in imports globally (with a share of 2.3%), but is 32nd in India’s export markets, with a share of 0.9%, currently exhibiting “low potential.” Having said that, he adds that the past two years have seen a sudden upsurge in exports from India at a CAGR of 32%. Other than mineral fuels, categories that have shown strong CAGR in this period include iron and steel, electrical machinery, rubber, nuclear reactors, apparel, pearls, and furniture and plastics, Mr. Singla says.

“This shows a strong surge in confidence by Canadian companies when it comes to sourcing from India across a wide range of categories. Clearly, the momentum has been building as compared to the pre-2020 period, when the overall export CAGR (2013-20) from India to Canada was just around 4%,” said Mr Singla.

From the Canadian perspective, India is a “priority market.” It was the North American country’s 10th largest trading partner. Global Canada (the international diplomacy and affairs department) has also said that “India will be a key partner as Canada strengthens its economic links to the Indo-Pacific under a new, comprehensive strategy for the region.”

How will this impact trade relations? 

India imported merchandise worth approximately U.S.$4.05 billion in FY 2022-23 from Canada and exported about U.S.$4.11 billion worth of goods — indicating a largely balanced trade. India’s primary export items include coal, coke and briquettes, fertilisers, iron and steel, and lentils. On the other hand, India’s major items of export are pharmaceutical products, iron and steel products, organic chemicals and marine products, along with apparel and textiles of varied forms and variants.

The CEPA, which now stands “paused,” was to further take care of “trade in goods, trade in services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade and other areas of economic cooperation”.

Mr Singla notes that, from available data, “Equivalent ad valorem tariff for India is high on dairy products, cereals, meat, fish, cocoa, apparel, textiles etc., which would undoubtedly be areas of interest for exporters,” adding that “to that extent, the FTA negotiations would delay possible easing of trade barriers in these sectors.”

On the other hand, as Mr Singla observes, “most of India’s top exports face minimal tariff barriers, with the exception of cereals and apparels, so a delay may not have a substantiative impact on India’s exports to Canada.”  

What about the investment ecosystem? 

As per the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency’s Invest India, Canada is the 18^th largest foreign investor in India..

Several Canadian companies have established their presence in India; this is besides the country’s more important pension funds such as the Canadian Pension Fund (or CPP). As reported by news agency Reuters, CPP increased its investment in the Indian markets to about $15 billion in areas such as real estate, renewables and the financial sector at the end of the previous financial year.

Other big pension funds with sizeable exposure to India include Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) — which has investments of about C$8 billion and the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan (OTPP) with $3 billion — both until the end of last year. Observers in Canada believe that in the immediate term, their positions might not be at risk. They argue that the tensions could however cause operational inconveniences, as travel may be an issue.

What about education in Canada?  

As per official statistics, Canada has about 1.08 lakh students from India at present. This accounts for more than 37% of its overall international student pool. Canada- based publication The Global and Mailwrote that the international student tuition (fee) is “several times higher than for Canadian students,” adding that it “has become essential to the finances of many postsecondary schools.” Any strain in the relationship between the two countries would not bode well for them.

In an advisory on September 23, the Ministry of External Affairs in India urged Indian nationals and students in Canada to “exercise utmost caution.”

Jeff Nankivell, President and CEO at the think-tank Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada told BNN Bloomberg that the “single greatest economic relationship between the two countries is the inflow of students from India… and if that is diminished, it would have negative implications not just for educational institutions but also for Canadian communities that are hosts to Indian international students.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses members of the press on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly at the Lotte Palace Hotel in New York City, U.S., September 22, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. was “deeply concerned” about allegations that India had a role in the death of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia and that it wanted to see accountability for the incident.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had told the country’s parliament on Monday that there were reasons to believe agents of the Government of India were involved in killing Mr Nijjar in June this year.

“It would be important that India work with the Canadians on this investigation,” Mr. Blinken told reporters at a press briefing in New York on Friday. “We want to see accountability and it’s important that the investigation run its course and lead to that to that result.”

World leaders and diplomats have gathered in the city for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The U.S. was not just consulting with the Canadians, but cooperating with them in the investigation, according to the Secretary.

“I think the most productive thing that can happen now is to see this investigation move forward, be completed,” he said adding that he hoped that “our Indian friends” would cooperate.

Directly engaging with India

Questioned on the nature of U.S. engagement with India on the matter, Mr. Blinken did not want to get into specifics, saying instead that the U.S. government had been directly engaging the Indian government on the issue.

Mr. Blinken made the larger point that the U.S. was very vigilant about alleged instances of “transnational repression” and called on countries not to engage in it.

“We are extremely vigilant about any instances of alleged transnational repression, “ he said, adding that the U.S. took it “very, very seriously”.

“And I think it’s important, more broadly, for the international system, that any country that might consider engaging in such acts not to not do so,” he said.

Mr. Trudeau, who was in New York on Thursday, had again stated his allegation, saying India’s alleged role in the killing of a Canadian in Canada was “of the utmost and foundational importance in a country of rule of law, in a world where international rules-based order matters”.

Canadian tourists, business travellers and even some former Indian citizens are rushing to change flights and inquire about their trip deposits after India abruptly suspended visa applications in the country amid an escalating diplomatic row.

A day after the Indian government warned its citizens in Canada to “exercise utmost caution” and hinted that their safety is threatened, BLS International – an agency that processes visa requests in Canada – posted an online notice saying services have been “suspended until further notice.”

“This shouldn’t happen for the innocent people,” said Jothy Ilangovan, standing in line outside the BLS office in Toronto. She was there to help her brother, a Canadian citizen who has lived in the country for 33 years, obtain a visa for a Hindu pilgrimage back to India. He had already booked his vacation time from work and feared the trip would be canceled. “We want to go to the temple and pray, that’s it.”

Ties between Canada and India are at their lowest point in decades after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of orchestrating the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian activist who was pushing for an independent Sikh homeland in the Punjab region.

India has denied the allegation, calling it “absurd” and hitting back with measures aimed at curbing travel between two nations.

Montreal-based engineering firm SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., which now operates under the brand name of AtkinsRealis, has limited travel to India for Canadian employees to “essential reasons only” until further notice, the firm’s spokesperson, Laurence Myre Leroux, said in an email. There hasn’t been any impact on operations so far, she added, but the situation is being monitored “closely.”

India’s move means most Canadians won’t be able to travel there if they don’t already have a visa. Travel agents said e-visa applications online were also not being processed for Canadians. And while Canadians who previously held Indian passports are eligible for Overseas Citizen of India cards – which allow visa-free entry – many do not hold them.

“This is going to impact Canada, and its trade and economy, where India has played a big role,” said Unnati Oza, a Toronto-based travel agent. “I used to work with a client who used to go there twice a year for business – to Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai. Where are Canadians going to go after this?”

It’s not just business travel. The visa suspension is also hitting leisure travellers: Canadians made 280,000 tourist arrivals in India last year, according to Indian government data, making it the No. 5 source of such visitors.

“I already have four or five people calling me this morning. They’re due to go in October and November for eight to 10 days of sightseeing. Now, they’re worried because the tours are non-refundable,” said Ottawa-based travel agent Lalit Sharma, who specializes in India. “If they don’t have the visas, they can’t go.”

At the BLS office in Toronto, a sign told visitors that visa services were suspended for “operational reasons.” Most of the people in line on Thursday morning were there to renew their Indian passports, but others were trying to get advice on the visa suspension.

Mithun Ganguly’s prospects were better, having come to the BLS office to renew his passport. A recent arrival to Canada, he said he doesn’t feel unsafe in the country, regardless of the current Indian advisory.

“Canada is a nice country to stay in, as well as India, so I think we should talk,” he said. “The tensions are not good for either of the countries.”

One year ago, India-Canada relations appeared to be on an upward trajectory. Now, tensions are high after a major accusation involving the murder of a Sikh activist.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The government today said it had asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in India and cited the “interference of Canadian diplomats in Indian affairs”, as the diplomatic row over the killing of a Khalistani terrorist escalated sharply.

This was hours after India suspended visa services in Canada, potentially impacting thousands seeking to travel to India.

“The Canadian diplomatic presence in India is larger than what India has and accordingly needs to be downsized,” foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters.

“We have informed the Canadian government that there should be parity in diplomatic presence. Their numbers are very much higher than ours in Canada… I assume there will be a reduction,” he said.

The spokesperson added that “Canadian diplomatic interference in our internal affairs is a factor”.

On India suspending visa applications in Canada, the foreign ministry cited “security threats” that were “disrupting” the work of their officials. Mission personnel were unable to carry out visa functions because of the security environment that they were facing, said the spokesperson.

“For now, the security situation in Canada and because of Canadian government inaction, we have stopped visa services temporarily”, Mr Bagchi said.

The suspension of visas came a day after the foreign ministry said it was concerned for the safety of its citizens in Canada because of “politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence”.

“Threats have particularly targeted Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community who oppose the anti-India agenda,” said the foreign ministry.

Canada’s High Commission had earlier said it would “adjust” diplomat numbers in India after “threats on various social media” against their staff.

“In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats. As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India,” it had said in a statement.

India-Canada ties have hit a new low after Justin Trudeau’s allegation that Indian agents played a role in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver in June. India has called the allegation “absurd and motivated”. 

Nijjar was killed by masked gunmen outside a Gurdwara on June 18 in Surrey. India has firmly rejected Mr Trudeau’s allegations, saying he offered no evidence.

“We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us, but so far we have received no specific information from Canada,” Mr Bagchi said, adding that Canada’s inaction was a huge concern.

“From our side, specific evidence about criminal activities by individuals based on Canadian soil has been shared with Canada but not acted upon…Yes, I do think there is a degree of prejudice here. They have made allegations and taken action on them. To us, it seems that these allegations by the government of Canada are primarily politically driven,” he added.

Mr Trudeau’s explosive charge was followed by tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. Canada also suspended talks on a trade deal with India.

After accusing “Indian agents” of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June – and plunging diplomatic ties with India to a new low – one of the key quarters Canada was hoping for support from is the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. 

The Five Eyes is an alliance of the intelligence agencies of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. According to a report in the Washington Post, the killing of Nijjar was raised privately by officials of the alliance in the weeks leading up to the G20 Summit in New Delhi earlier this month. No mention of the killing was, however, made publicly before the summit. 

Members of the alliance have expressed concern over the allegations and some have urged India to cooperate with Canada in its investigation.

Two members of the Five Eyes, the US and Australia, are also part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, grouping with India and Japan.

Founding And Objectives

After their intelligence cooperation played a key role in winning World War II, the United States and the United Kingdom formalised the UKUSA agreement of 1946. The alliance expanded twice and, by 1956, Canada, Australia and New Zealand had also become its members. 

A charter from the alliance states, “It is recognised that the intelligence agencies of the Five Eyes countries cooperate operationally under formal or informal agreements and whereas each country has a variation of law on security of information or official secrets binding officials to secrecy, the Council Members commit to facilitating information sharing and collaboration between themselves.”

Intelligence sharing

Various agencies from all five countries share human intelligence, signal intelligence, security intelligence, geospatial intelligence and defence intelligence. Signals intelligence, or SIGINT, refers to information derived from electronic signals and networks such as communications systems – like the mobile network and the internet – radars, and weapons systems. 

Geospatial intelligence, or location intelligence, deals with data such as satellite images and location information and ” encompasses all aspects of imagery and geospatial information and services”.

Member Statements

Speaking in the Canadian parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said his government had “credible allegations” linking the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June with the “agents of the Government of India”. 

Terming the allegations “very serious”, the United States has said that it supports Canada’s efforts to investigate the killing. It has also urged India to cooperate. 

“Certainly the President is mindful of these serious allegations, and they are very serious. And we support Canada’s efforts to investigate this. We believe a fully transparent comprehensive investigation is the right approach so that we can all know exactly what happened and of course, we encourage India to cooperate with that,” Mr Kirby said in an interview to CNN.

Australia has called the reports of the alleged involvement of Indian officials “concerning” and said it has raised the issue India. 

“Look, these are concerning reports, and I note that investigations are still underway, but obviously these are concerning reports and we are monitoring these developments closely with our partners, and we’ll continue to do so… We have raised these issues with our Indian counterparts, as you would expect us to do,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. 

UK And New Zealand

The UK has said it is in touch with Canada about the “serious allegations” but added that they would not have a bearing on the trade talks with India.

“Work on the trade negotiations will continue as before. The Canadian authorities will now conduct their work and I’m not going to preempt them. When we have concerns about countries we are negotiating trade deals with, we will raise them directly with the government concerned. But with regards to the current negotiations with India, these are negotiations about a trade deal, and we’re not looking to conflate them with other issues,” a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. 

The response from New Zealand was also muted. “If those claims were proven true, that would be of serious concern. I won’t comment further on what is an ongoing criminal investigation in Canada,” the NZ Herald quoted Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta as saying. 

New Delhi:

Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi today claimed responsibility for the killing of Khalistani terrorist Sukhdool Singh in Canada. Sukhdool, also known as Sukha Duneke, was killed last night in Canada in inter-gang violence. Duneke was part of the Khalistan movement in Canada.

Duneke was a “Category A” gangster from Punjab’s Moga. He fled to Canada on a fake passport in 2017 and was a close associate of gangster and Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dalla. He was one of 43 gangsters with links to Khalistan and Canada mentioned in a list released by the anti-terror agency NIA yesterday.

In a Facebook post, Bishnoi’s gang claimed that Duneke played a key role in the murders of gangsters Gurlal Brar and Vicky Middukhera. The gang termed Duneke a “drug addict’ who got “punished for his sins” and warned that their enemies will not be able to survive in India or any other country for that matter. 

Bishnoi is currently incarcerated in Ahmedabad on drug smuggling charges that are being investigated by the NIA. Bishnoi is also an accused in the murder case of singer Sidhu Moosewala.

Duneke’s killing comes at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons earlier this week that his government had “credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in June.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Indian terrorist and leader of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was shot and killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. He was one of India’s most wanted terrorists, with a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head.

While tensions between India and Canada remain high, Punjab Police today launched a statewide crackdown on the associates of gangster Goldy Brar, who is another key accused in the killing of singer Sidhu Moosewala. Brar has close links to the Khalistani separatist movement and is believed to be hiding in Canada.