Amid the growing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah has urged India to prioritize diplomacy and maintain friendly relations with Canada. On Tuesday, Abdullah expressed regret over the deteriorating relations, stating, “We should establish a friendship. If they claim that our Indian government did this, the Indian government denies it.” He stressed that diplomacy should not be abandoned in the face of these tensions.
Abdullah also commented on the allegations that agents from India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. According to him, Canada had received intelligence from the U.S. regarding India’s involvement, which was subsequently presented to the Indian government. However, Abdullah noted that he had limited information about the case and emphasized the need for maintaining a diplomatic approach to resolve the issue.
The Indian government has consistently denied any involvement in Nijjar’s killing, despite Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s claims of possessing “credible evidence.” Sources within the Indian government have criticized Canada for making vague accusations without providing concrete evidence. They also pointed out that Trudeau repeated the same allegations during a recent press conference without offering new details.
The diplomatic spat intensified on Monday when India expelled six Canadian diplomats after summoning Canada’s Charge d’Affaires, Stewart Wheeler, to convey its displeasure. This move came in response to Canada’s earlier decision to expel six Indian diplomats, reportedly based on evidence collected by Canadian police that linked the diplomats to an alleged Indian government “campaign of violence.”
Relations between the two nations have been strained since Trudeau’s address to the Canadian Parliament last year, in which he accused India of involvement in Nijjar’s assassination. Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani figure, was shot dead in Surrey, Canada, in June 2023. Trudeau’s claims of India’s involvement have led to an escalating diplomatic conflict, with both sides trading allegations and expelling diplomats.
