https://sputniknews.in/20230919/canadas-support-for-khalistan-terrorists-to-boomerang-indian-analyst-warns-4323137.html
Canada’s Support for Khalistan Terrorists to ‘Boomerang’, Indian Analyst Warns
Canada’s Support for Khalistan Terrorists to ‘Boomerang’, Indian Analyst Warns
Sputnik India
New Delhi has announced that it has asked a senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country in the next five days due to ongoing concerns over their “involvement in anti-India activities”.
2023-09-19T15:26+0530
2023-09-19T15:26+0530
2023-09-19T17:37+0530
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The Canadian government’s “support” for pro-Khalistan terrorists in the country constitutes a “major setback” in bilateral relations with India and is “bound to boomerang”, an Indian expert has suggested to Sputnik India.Around two percent of the Canadian population identifies as Sikh, according to official statistics. In fact, Canada hosts the biggest Sikh community outside the Indian state of Punjab.Trudeau’s federal coalition ally Jagmeet Singh, who heads the New Democratic Party (NDP), has faced criticism in India for his backing of the pro-Khalistan separatists.The Indian expert recalled that pro-Khalistan separatists were behind the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in June 1985, which remains the deadliest terrorist incident in Canada to date.The bombing of the flight mid-air en route to London from Toronto resulted in the killing of all 329 passengers, most of them Canadian citizens of Indian origin.He cited the US backing of the Taliban* in the 1980s and 1990s to dislodge a Moscow-backed government in Kabul at the time.In 2001, Al-Qaeda** claimed responsibility for the 9/11 terror attacks, prompting US-led forces to launch an invasion of Afghanistan to eliminate Al-Qaeda safe havens.As far as Pakistan is concerned, Singh explained that it is now “paying the price” of backing extremist elements carrying out “cross-border terrorism” against India.Effect on People-to-People, Strategic TiesIn terms of immigration, India was the biggest source of new immigrants to Canada in 2022.Singh reckoned that pro-Khalistan sentiment resonated only with a small minority of Sikhs in Canada.The Indian think-tanker also underscored the point that Trudeau’s backing of pro-Khalistan separatists doesn't amount to backing “freedom of speech” or civil liberties, as claimed by Ottawa.He also forecast that the strategic ties between the two nations have been affected due to the Khalistan issue.Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy released this year recognizes India as a “critical partner” and calls for finalizing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.However, free trade deal negotiations were put on hold last week after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reprimanded Trudeau over “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada" when the two leaders met on the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi this month.India, Canada Expel Each Other's DiplomatsThe comments by the Indian think-tanker come against the backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, a day after Trudeau told the House of Commons that Canadian security agencies had been “actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian agents and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.Nijjar headed secessionist group the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). He was a designated terrorist under the Indian law.Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on Monday that Ottawa had made a decision to expel a senior Indian diplomat over the charges spelled out by Trudeau.The remarks drew a swift diplomatic response from New Delhi, which announced on Tuesday that it would also expel a senior Canadian diplomat from the country for his “involvement in anti-India activities".The MEA also categorically rejected Trudeau’s statement alleging links between New Delhi and the killing of Nijjar.‘Absurd and Baseless’, India SaysIn a strong-worded statement, the MEA said on Tuesday that Ottawa’s “unsubstantiated allegations” were meant to shift the focus from Khalistani extremists and terrorists who have been “provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.It emphasized that the “inaction” of the Canadian government on the matter had been a “long-standing and continuing concern”.New Delhi further urged the Canadian authorities to “take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil”.New Delhi has been critical of Canada over the activities of pro-Khalistan entities in the country.In recent months, Indian diplomatic missions in Canada as well as several Hindu temples in the North American nation have faced vandalism and attacks reportedly perpetrated by radical Sikh separatists.*under UN sanctions**banned terrorist group
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Canada’s Support for Khalistan Terrorists to ‘Boomerang’, Indian Analyst Warns
15:26 19.09.2023 (Updated: 17:37 19.09.2023) A major diplomatic row has erupted between India and Canada after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated that Indian “agents” could have been behind the killing of pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June.
The Canadian government’s “support” for pro-Khalistan terrorists in the country constitutes a “major setback” in bilateral relations with India and is “bound to boomerang”, an Indian expert has suggested to Sputnik India.
Binay Kumar Singh, a senior research fellow on national security issues at the New Delhi-based think tank Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPMRF), accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government of “pandering” to extremist elements in the Canadian Sikh community for political gains.
Around two percent of the Canadian population identifies as Sikh, according to official statistics. In fact, Canada hosts the biggest Sikh community outside the Indian state of Punjab.
Trudeau’s federal coalition ally Jagmeet Singh, who heads the New Democratic Party (NDP), has faced criticism in India for his backing of the pro-Khalistan separatists.
“The Canadian government is behaving like an ostrich, burying its head in the sand in the face of security concerns posed by Khalistan activists in the country. But as we have seen on past occasions as well, countries which have backed terrorism to leverage their positions have been made to pay the price”, warned Singh, who has written papers on pro-Khalistan issues.
The Indian expert recalled that pro-Khalistan separatists were behind the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in June 1985, which remains the deadliest terrorist incident in Canada to date.
The bombing of the flight mid-air en route to London from Toronto resulted in the killing of all 329 passengers, most of them Canadian citizens of Indian origin.
Singh warned that countries like the US and Pakistan, which have in the past been charged with “nurturing” hardliners to extend their foreign policy goals, have suffered at the hands of same terrorists.
He cited the US backing of the Taliban* in the 1980s and 1990s to dislodge a Moscow-backed government in Kabul at the time.
In 2001, Al-Qaeda** claimed responsibility for the 9/11 terror attacks, prompting US-led forces to launch an invasion of Afghanistan to eliminate Al-Qaeda safe havens.
As far as Pakistan is concerned, Singh explained that it is now “paying the price” of backing extremist elements carrying out “cross-border terrorism” against India.
Effect on People-to-People, Strategic Ties
In terms of immigration, India was the biggest source of new immigrants to Canada in 2022.
Singh reckoned that pro-Khalistan sentiment resonated only with a small minority of Sikhs in Canada.
“Trudeau has failed to recognize that most of the Sikhs in Canada are loyal to their motherland. They are critical of anti-India activities”, he said.
The Indian think-tanker also underscored the point that Trudeau’s backing of pro-Khalistan separatists doesn't amount to
backing “freedom of speech” or civil liberties, as claimed by Ottawa.
“Activism in Canada can’t amount to terrorism in India, or vice-versa”, he warned.
He also forecast that the strategic ties between the two nations have been affected due to the Khalistan issue.
Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy released this year recognizes India as a “critical partner” and calls for finalizing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.
However, free trade deal negotiations were
put on hold last week after
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reprimanded Trudeau over “continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada" when the two leaders met on the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi this month.
“At a time when countries across the globe recognize India as a major strategic partner in Indo-Pacific, Canada, instead of courting India, has done the complete opposite”, Singh highlighted.
India, Canada Expel Each Other's Diplomats
The comments by the Indian think-tanker come against the backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, a day after Trudeau told the House of Commons that Canadian security agencies had been “actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link” between Indian agents and the
killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Nijjar headed secessionist group the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). He was a designated terrorist under the Indian law.
“Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty”, the Canadian prime minister said.
Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on Monday that Ottawa had made a decision to expel a senior Indian diplomat over the charges spelled out by Trudeau.
The remarks drew a swift diplomatic response from New Delhi, which announced on Tuesday that it would also
expel a senior Canadian diplomat from the country for his “involvement in anti-India activities".
The MEA also categorically rejected Trudeau’s statement alleging links between New Delhi and the killing of Nijjar.
‘Absurd and Baseless’, India Says
In a strong-worded statement, the MEA said on Tuesday that Ottawa’s “unsubstantiated allegations” were meant to shift the focus from
Khalistani extremists and terrorists who have been “provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
“Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated. Similar allegations were made by the Canadian Prime Minister to our Prime Minister (during their meeting at the G20 Summit this month), and were completely rejected,” the MEA said in a statement.
It emphasized that the “inaction” of the Canadian government on the matter had been a “long-standing and continuing concern”.
“That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern. The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new,” the Indian statement also underscored.
New Delhi further urged the Canadian authorities to “take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil”.
New Delhi has been critical of Canada over the
activities of pro-Khalistan entities in the country.
In recent months, Indian diplomatic missions in Canada as well as several Hindu temples in the North American nation have faced vandalism and attacks reportedly perpetrated by radical Sikh separatists.
