Ahmet Tümer

Parties Involved and the Root Causes of the Crisis

In 2023, diplomatic tensions sharply escalated between Canada and India. The core trigger of the crisis was the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023, in front of a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Nijjar was a Sikh leader designated by the Indian government as a “separatist terrorist.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on September 18, 2023, during an emergency parliamentary session, that Canada was actively investigating “credible allegations” linking Indian intelligence agents to Nijjar’s killing. India rejected these accusations as “absurd and politically motivated,” accusing Trudeau of attempting to damage India’s reputation. Despite historically strong ties and a large Sikh diaspora in Canada, the Nijjar murder created a deep trust crisis between the two countries.

Development of the Crisis and Key Dates

• June 18, 2023 – Assassination of Nijjar: Nijjar was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey. As a prominent advocate for an independent Sikh state (“Khalistan”), he had long been on India’s terror watch list. While India viewed him strictly as a militant extremist, Canada suspected the involvement of foreign state agents.
• September 1, 2023 – Suspension of Trade Talks: As tensions increased, Canada unexpectedly paused negotiations on a free trade agreement with India. Though no official link was stated, Canadian media indicated the decision was connected to the Nijjar case.
• September 9–10, 2023 – G20 Summit Tensions: During the G20 Summit in India, relations visibly deteriorated. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with many leaders but did not meet with Trudeau. Prior to this, Trudeau had expressed frustration that allies—especially the United States—did not publicly support Canada’s allegations during the summit.
• September 18, 2023 – Trudeau’s Parliamentary Accusation: Trudeau publicly declared that Canada was investigating credible intelligence suggesting Indian involvement in Nijjar’s assassination. He described any foreign government’s involvement in such a killing as a “grave violation of sovereignty.” On the same day, Canada expelled a senior Indian intelligence official, and India promptly expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in retaliation.
• September 19, 2023 – Reciprocal Diplomatic Measures: India dismissed Trudeau’s claims as “baseless and deliberate.” Both countries summoned each other’s ambassadors and expelled top diplomats. India additionally demanded a reduction of Canada’s diplomatic staff on its territory.
• September 21, 2023 – Suspension of Visa Services: India suspended new visa applications for Canadian citizens, citing security threats, and demanded that Canada downsize its diplomatic presence. Indian media also reported social media threats against Indian diplomats in Canada. Canada began withdrawing diplomatic staff as the investigation continued.
• October 19, 2023 – Canada Withdraws Diplomats: After India threatened to revoke diplomatic privileges, Canada pulled back 41 of its diplomats from India. Ottawa asserted that New Delhi’s demands violated the Vienna Convention. India countered by demanding equal diplomatic staffing levels.
• October 25, 2023 – Partial Resumption of Visa Services: India partially resumed visa services for certain categories ahead of the wedding season. However, officials emphasized that this did not signal full normalization.
• November 22, 2023 – U.S. Developments: The United States revealed that it had prevented a separate plot targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a close associate of Nijjar. Washington warned New Delhi as investigations into international links continued, adding a global dimension to the crisis.

International Reactions and Global Impact

India repeatedly rejected all accusations and accused Canada of harboring and tolerating extremist elements within its borders. Canada, on the other hand, warned that foreign interference in domestic affairs represented an unacceptable breach of national sovereignty. The crisis deeply alarmed Western allies, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom. Both urged India to reconsider its actions regarding diplomatic staff reductions and warned of possible violations of international diplomatic norms.

Canada briefed its intelligence allies within the “Five Eyes” alliance. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia expressed “serious concern,” but avoided direct condemnation of India due to its strategic importance against China. During the G20 Summit, Western leaders were notably reluctant to directly confront India on the issue.

Diplomatic Measures and Retaliation

India suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, while Canada recalled dozens of diplomats from India. Both sides declared senior diplomatic officials “persona non grata.” India cited security concerns regarding its consulates in Canada. Canada temporarily suspended consular services in several Indian cities and experienced visa processing delays.

Trade relations were also affected, as both sides froze free trade negotiations and canceled economic forums. These measures functioned more as diplomatic pressure tools than legal sanctions—no financial or military sanctions were imposed.

Statements by Political Leaders

Prime Minister Trudeau declared in Parliament that any involvement by a foreign government in a murder on Canadian soil constitutes a “serious violation of sovereignty.” The Indian government categorically denied all accusations. India’s Ministry of External Affairs labeled Trudeau’s claims “absurd and deliberate,” and criticized Canada for failing to suppress separatist activity.

Indian officials justified visa suspensions by citing alleged security risks to their diplomatic missions. The United Kingdom further emphasized that India’s actions against Canadian diplomats conflicted with basic principles of international diplomatic law.

Consequences and Ongoing Developments

By the end of 2023, no full diplomatic normalization had taken place. While India partially resumed visa services, experts described the situation as one of the deepest crises in the history of India–Canada relations. Trade, academic cooperation, and civil mobility suffered significant setbacks.

The Nijjar investigation continues, and with India’s 2024 elections approaching, no clear diplomatic resolution appears imminent. The disruption of a second assassination plot in the United States underlined the international ramifications of the crisis. The prevailing view is that only a long-term confidence-building diplomatic process can resolve the dispute.