Khalistan 'embassy' at Nijjar's old stomping ground threatens India-Canada reset
The symbolic setup openly supports Nijjar. Its opening coincides with preparations for a 'Khalistan referendum' organised by the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Indian security agencies are closely monitoring the situation, sources said.
The development threatens to derail recent attempts at rapprochement between the two nations, including the first in-person meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his newly elected Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during the G7 summit earlier this year.The two sides had signalled interest in moving beyond the diplomatic rupture triggered by Nijjar's death and unproven allegations by former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau of the Indian government's involvement. New Delhi has categorically rejected any role in the killing.New Delhi has long expressed concerns over Khalistani elements using Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India, and censured Ottawa for not acting against them.For India, the symbolic Khalistan 'embassy' is yet another example of Ottawa failing to act against groups it sees as threats to its national security, a point it has raised repeatedly since the 1985 Air India bombing that killed 329 people.Significantly, India's warnings have now found echo in Canada's own intelligence assessments. In June, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for the first time publicly acknowledged the threat posed by Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil.In its annual report, the CSIS noted that Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) remain a long-standing source of politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE) in the country. While no CBKE-linked attacks were reported in 2024, the agency warned that such actors continue to engage in financing, facilitating, and plotting violence abroad.advertisementIt also marked the first time Canadian authorities officially used the term 'extremism' in connection with the Khalistan movement.The CSIS report came amid an ongoing investigation into Nijjar's killing. Four individuals were arrested in May 2024 and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.- Ends
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
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25 minutes ago
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