Tensions between India and Canada have escalated dramatically, leading to the expulsion of top diplomats from both countries. The diplomatic fallout stems from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that Indian agents were involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, on Canadian soil in June 2023.

Canadian police claimed that Indian agents were engaged in criminal activities, including “homicides, extortion, and violent acts” targeting pro-Khalistan movement supporters, which calls for a separate Sikh homeland. Trudeau, speaking on national television, said his government had acted based on credible evidence from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which linked Indian agents to Nijjar’s murder. He accused India of making a “fundamental error” by allegedly supporting criminal activities within Canada, calling it a breach of Canadian sovereignty.

India has rejected these accusations as “preposterous,” accusing Trudeau of political pandering to Canada’s large Sikh community. In a strong response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including acting High Commissioner Stewart Ross Wheeler, while also recalling its top envoy from Canada, citing security concerns for Indian diplomats.

The diplomatic spat follows months of strained relations between the two nations. India previously demanded that Canada withdraw several of its diplomats and suspended visa services in response to Trudeau’s accusations. Both governments remain at odds, with Canada insisting on the need for a thorough investigation and India dismissing the claims as politically motivated.

The murder of Nijjar, a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement, has fueled the ongoing diplomatic crisis. India has long labeled Nijjar a terrorist, a claim his supporters dispute. Canadian authorities have since treated his killing as a “targeted attack” and claim that over a dozen credible threats to pro-Khalistan figures exist within Canada, heightening the urgency for international action.

The unfolding diplomatic rift has shaken both nations’ bilateral relations, raising questions about the future of India-Canada ties and international cooperation on issues of security and sovereignty.