India-Canada ties: ‘The onus is on Trudeau to clean up the mess’ | India News – Times of India

The India-Canada diplomatic spat has escalated to unprecedented levels as New Delhi recalled six of its diplomats including the high commissioner, and expelled as many Canadian envoys. The diplomatic clash started from Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s decision to publicly accuse India of being allegedly involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist leader, last year without providing “hard evidentiary proof” to India.
Joe Adam George, a national security analyst on South Asia affairs, has put the onus of deteriorating bilateral ties on Canadian PM Trudeau. Writing on the latest diplomatic row in National Post, a Canadian newspaper, George argues that the Trudeau government’s handling of the diplomatic spat with India has been misguided and counterproductive. The author contends that instead of tactfully addressing India’s concerns about alleged transnational repression activities, Trudeau chose to publicly accuse India without providing sufficient evidence, further straining the already fragile relationship between the two countries.
The article highlights the importance of recognizing India’s priorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, particularly the country’s zero-tolerance policy on issues such as terrorism and separatism. The author points out that India faces unique security challenges due to its geographical location and history, and that the Modi government has taken decisive actions to address these concerns, such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The piece also delves into the issue of Khalistani separatism, which New Delhi alleges is being promoted by extremists in Canada with support from Pakistan. The author argues that by appeasing Khalistani extremists, the Trudeau government is not only undermining Indian interests but also risking the lives of innocent Sikhs who have no interest in the militant movement.
“By siding with Khalistani extremists, Ottawa is conflating separatist militancy with legitimate religion and risking the lives of innocent Sikhs,” said George, emphasizing the Trudeau government’s failure to recognize the complex history of Khalistan militancy. The UK’s Bloom Review, commissioned last year, warned that Khalistani activists have exploited government ignorance, brainwashed youth, and raised funds to support their separatist cause. George points out that Trudeau’s actions are not rooted in ignorance but in “wilful blindness” for partisan gain, despite decades of warnings from New Delhi.
“Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a former Pentagon official, accused Trudeau of sparking an international crisis by “mischaracterizing” and “politicizing” American intelligence to justify his allegations that India had a hand in the Nijjar assassination. Rubin added that Trudeau, like his father, Pierre Trudeau, has not only permitted Khalistan militancy to thrive in Canada but also transformed the country into a hub for terrorism and terror financing,” the article said.
Trudeau’s decision to engage in a diplomatic spat with India was a grave error in judgment, irrespective of the purported missteps of the Modi administration. This ill-advised move has unintentionally refocused attention on the Canadian government’s leniency concerning international meddling and cross-border criminal activities, which are causing harm to both Canada and its partners, the article added.
As per George, Trudeau’s actions have served to highlight the very issues he likely sought to downplay, casting a shadow on his administration’s ability to effectively address these pressing concerns. The unintended consequences of this diplomatic misstep may have far-reaching implications for Canada’s relationships with its allies and its reputation on the global stage.
The author concludes by emphasizing India’s growing importance in geopolitics and the need for Trudeau to forge a fresh path forward with New Delhi if he expects cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
“India is no longer a nominal player in geopolitics. It will let its relationship with Canada disintegrate if it must. The onus is on Trudeau to clean up the mess he created by forging a fresh path forward with New Delhi if he expects it to co-operate in the investigation,” George said.