US urges India to cooperate with Canada on Sikh leader's killing probe

The United States has expressed its support for Canada's efforts to investigate the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader that occurred on Canadian soil, urging India to cooperate in the investigation.

John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NSC), emphasised the importance of a fully transparent and comprehensive investigation to uncover the truth surrounding the incident.

"We believe a complete and transparent investigation is the right approach so that we can all understand exactly what transpired. Of course, we encourage India to cooperate with this investigation,” Kirby told CNN.

Canada's allegations revolve around the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in June. Ottawa has taken the significant step of expelling India's top intelligence agent in connection with the case.

Read more: ‘Flatly false’: US denies snubbing Canada over Sikh leader’s murder

Nijjar advocated for an independent Khalistani state and was designated as a "terrorist" by India in July 2020, although he denied these charges, as stated by the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, a nonprofit organisation that represents the interests of Canadian Sikhs.

Canada is actively pursuing credible allegations linking Indian government agents to Nijjar's murder. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the Canadian House of Commons in an emergency statement, condemning any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen as an unacceptable violation of Canada's sovereignty. He also called on India to take the investigation seriously.

In response, India expelled a Canadian diplomat with a five-day notice to leave the country and dismissed Canada's accusation as "absurd and motivated." India urged Canada to take legal action against “anti-Indian elements” operating from its soil.

In the interview, Kirby underscored the seriousness of Canada's allegations and stated that President Joe Biden was aware of the situation.

Regarding the intelligence behind Canada's allegations, he declined to provide specifics, emphasising the need to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation and leaving it to Canada to disclose the underlying information.

When asked about potential consequences if it were proven that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ordered the killing, Kirby cautioned against preemptive judgments, emphasising the importance of a transparent and comprehensive investigation.

He reiterated the call for India to cooperate with the inquiry and stated that once all the facts were known, recommendations or actions could be considered.

‘Flatly false’

Another spokesperson for the US National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, firmly denied any claims suggesting that the United States had rejected Canada's efforts in investigation, categorically dismissing them as “flatly false”.

Watson emphasised that the US was closely coordinating and consulting with Canada on the issue and reiterated the seriousness of the situation.

She noted that the US was also engaging with the Indian government, emphasising the need for a comprehensive and impartial investigation.

India’s ‘network of extra-territorial killings’ exposed

Earlier in the day, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch commented on the Canadian accusation, stating that it exposed India's "network of extra-territorial killings" that had extended globally.

This statement was made during a press briefing in Islamabad, where the FO spokesperson emphasised that India's intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), had been actively involved in abductions and assassinations in South Asia.

Read more: India tells citizens in Canada to exercise caution as ties worsen

Baloch noted that Pakistan had been a target of numerous targeted killings and espionage activities orchestrated by RAW. She referenced Pakistan's release of a comprehensive dossier in December of the previous year, which presented concrete evidence of India's involvement in the Lahore attack that occurred in June 2021.

Baloch added that a high-ranking Indian military officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav, had confessed in 2016 to directing, financing, and executing acts of terrorism and sabotage in Pakistan.

‘Pakistan not surprised’

Foreign Secretary Syrus Qazi, while addressing a press briefing at the United Nations Mission in New York earlier, expressed that Pakistan was not surprised by the Canadian accusation.

He stated that the world should recognise the actions of India, a country considered a supposed indispensable ally. Qazi highlighted Pakistan's awareness of its eastern neighbour's capabilities, citing the capture of a serving naval intelligence officer on Pakistani soil, who admitted to coming to Pakistan to create instability and engage in malicious activities.

Qazi noted that the Canadian premier's allegation likely had some basis, given Pakistan's experience with Indian involvement in destabilising activities within its borders. He emphasised the significance of the Kulbhushan Jadhav case as evidence of India's interference.

Regarding conflicts with India, Qazi rejected the notion that Pakistan's responses had been defensive. He asserted that Pakistan understood India well and was not afraid of its larger neighbour.

He pointed out that Pakistan had consistently defended its freedom against a significantly larger rival for seven decades and would continue to do so when necessary.

In reference to the India-Canada dispute, Qazi reiterated that the situation did not surprise Pakistan, and he called on the world to understand the actions of a country they had deemed an indispensable ally.

Meanwhile, both India and Canada have issued updated travel advisories for their citizens amid the diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

India has cautioned its citizens against visiting certain parts of Canada, citing concerns for their safety due to what it described as "politically condoned hate crimes and criminal violence."

On the other hand, Canada has updated its travel advisory for its citizens planning to visit India. The Canadian government's statement, updated on Monday, advised against all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. It highlighted the presence of threats related to terrorism, militancy, civil unrest, and kidnapping. However, the advisory explicitly excluded travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.

These updated travel advisories reflect the ongoing tensions and diplomatic disagreements between the two countries, with each government taking measures to safeguard the well-being of its citizens amid the dispute.

Canadian Sikh community response

Representatives of the Sikh community in Canada have responded to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's assertion regarding the investigation into the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar:

Mukhbir Singh of the World Sikh Organisation of Canada stated that while Canadians may have been "shocked" by Trudeau's assertion, it was not a surprise to the Sikh community. He alleged that for decades, India had targeted Sikhs in Canada with espionage, disinformation, and now murder.

Balraj Singh Nijjar, the son of the slain leader, expressed his belief that it was only a matter of time before the truth would come out. He expressed hope that the investigation would lead to identifying specific individuals responsible for the murder.

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of Canada's New Democratic Party and an ally of Trudeau, called for India's inclusion in a probe initiated in September, which focused on alleged interference in Canadian affairs by foreign countries, particularly China. He cited his own experience as a Sikh Canadian and noted that there had always been suspicions of India interfering in the democratic rights of Canadians. Singh stated that yesterday's announcement confirmed the validity of these suspicions.

These responses reflect the perspectives of various members of the Sikh community in Canada and political leaders regarding the investigation and the broader issue of foreign interference in Canadian affairs.