India has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens in Canada to exercise utmost caution amidst a growing diplomatic rift between the two countries. The advisory comes after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of orchestrating the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Canadian government is currently investigating these allegations, while India has vehemently rejected and dismissed them as baseless. The Ministry of External Affairs in India cited anti-India activities and hate crimes in Canada as the reason for the advisory. Indian nationals are advised to avoid regions and venues that have witnessed such incidents. The escalating crisis between India and Canada could have implications for the strategic partnership between the US and India, which aims to reduce reliance on China and realign supply chains and technology access.
The tensions between India and Canada stem from allegations that Indian government agents may be connected to the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Nijjar, a naturalized Canadian, was a prominent advocate for Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland. Canada has initiated investigations into the allegations, leading to reciprocal actions of expelling senior diplomats by both countries. Prime Minister Trudeau has stressed the seriousness of the matter, emphasizing that the Canadian government does not intend to provoke or escalate the situation. However, the travel advisory issued by India has sparked public outrage in the Indian media. India’s opposition Congress Party has expressed support for the government’s fight against terrorism, highlighting the history of a bloody insurgency by Sikh separatists in the past.
Sikh separatism is a sensitive issue for India, as the country faced a violent insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Sikh community demanding an independent Sikh homeland in the state of Punjab. The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, carried out by Sikh bodyguards, further fueled tensions. While the insurgency was eventually suppressed, there are concerns of a revival. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh separatist who was murdered, was allegedly helping to organize an unofficial referendum among the Sikh diaspora in support of Sikh independence. India had labeled Nijjar a terrorist in 2020, accusing him of plotting targeted murders.
The travel advisory by India signals its concerns about the security environment in Canada, specifically for Indian students. With the deteriorating relations between the two countries and the alleged targeting of Indian diplomats and sections of the Indian community, Indian students are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant. The situation has the potential to impact the broader Indo-Pacific alliance, of which Canada is an important partner. The alliance, aimed at reducing reliance on China and securing supply chains, could be affected if the crisis between India and Canada worsens. The US, in particular, is courting India as a strategic partner and a key player in the Indo-Pacific region. As both countries navigate this diplomatic rift, the implications for their bilateral relations and wider regional dynamics remain uncertain.
