Title: Canada Reveals Intelligence Linking India to Sikh Leader’s Murder, Global Alliances Tested
Subtitle: Canada’s allegations put Western nations in a bind as they court India as a counterweight to China
Ottawa, Sept 20 (Reuters) – Canada’s divulgence of intelligence potentially linking Indian government agents to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar has put global alliances to the test. While such news usually sparks uproar among democratic allies, India’s increasing importance as a counterweight to China has resulted in a muted response from the international community.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Canada was actively pursuing credible allegations of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing, a Canadian citizen, back in June. Although the matter had been discreetly discussed with key allies like the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand through the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance, the response so far has been restrained.
Britain, caught between supporting Canada and maintaining a positive relationship with India – a vital trading partner and ally against China – refrained from publicly criticizing India. The United Kingdom sees a potential free trade deal with India as a crucial political victory, signaling the delicate position Western nations find themselves in.
White House national security adviser, John Kirby, expressed deep concern over the matter and urged Indian officials to cooperate in the investigation. However, India vehemently denies any involvement in the murder, paralleling the disparity between the reactions to this case and previous incidents, such as the poisoning of the Skripals in England, which resulted in significant backlash against Russia.
Analysts point out that countries are unwilling to condemn India jointly due to their interests in strengthening ties with the country amidst growing tensions with China. Until concrete evidence emerges, Canada’s options appear limited. The hope is to provide incontrovertible evidence that will compel allies to support condemning India’s alleged state involvement in the assassination attempt.
The Canadian government sources indicated that they would have preferred to wait longer before making a statement. However, the imminent breaking of the story by domestic media outlets forced their hand. As the investigation into Nijjar’s murder is still active, Canada has not publicly released the intelligence they possess.
“At the cusp of the global opportunity for India, they absolutely need to handle this responsibly – for their own interests,” a senior source said. The unfolding events have not only put strains on international relations but also underscore the challenges faced by Canadian authorities in navigating a delicate geopolitical landscape.
Reporting by Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren; additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill in London; editing by Jonathan Oatis.