The United States has waded into the growing diplomatic storm between India and Canada, urging New Delhi to take Canada’s serious allegations of an assassination plot against a Sikh separatist leader seriously. According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, the allegations are “extremely serious” and deserve thorough investigation, with the US calling for India to cooperate fully with Canada’s inquiry.
However, India has taken a different approach, resulting in rising tensions between the two countries. On Monday, both nations expelled each other’s ambassadors after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the 2022 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent advocate for an independent Sikh state. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was shot outside a Sikh temple in Canada, sparking diplomatic shockwaves.
India has long expressed concerns over Sikh separatist movements abroad, particularly in countries like Canada. Trudeau’s recent statements allege that India’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing goes deeper than previously known, describing it as a “fundamental error” by the Indian government. As tensions mount, India and Canada find themselves in a diplomatic standoff.
The US, while addressing its own allegations of an attempted assassination plot by India on American soil, has managed the matter more quietly. An Indian “Enquiry Committee” was dispatched to Washington this week to discuss the case and investigate the links. The State Department confirmed that the US is closely monitoring India’s follow-up steps.
The US finds itself in a delicate balancing act, as both India and Canada are key partners. For over two decades, the US has viewed India as a vital ally, especially in countering the rise of China in the region. Despite this strategic relationship, human rights groups have repeatedly criticized India’s democratic regression under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The situation leaves the US navigating a tricky diplomatic terrain, as it urges India to cooperate with Canada while maintaining strong ties with both nations.
With the expulsion of ambassadors and increasing tensions, the spotlight is on how India and Canada will handle the fallout from these allegations. As the US continues to call for transparency and investigation, the question remains: will India cooperate, or will the rift deepen further?
