India in the dock

India is in a fix as Canada and the United States are out with convincing evidence of Delhi's extra-territorial misadventures. Ottawa and Washington are now in a position to hold their ground, and want New Delhi to stand accountable for making use of its intelligence moles in plotting the killing of Sikh dissidents on their respective soils. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on the floor of the house, reiterated that there are "clear indications" that India had violated Canadian sovereignty and was behind the extermination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an advocate for an independent Sikh state. Likewise, the US government unsealed an indictment against a former intelligence sleuth, accusing him of leading a failed attempt to assassinate Indian-American Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2023.

It would not be an easy hush-up game for India, and the best it can do is to bring the culprits to book and admit the blunder of going over the brink, which is tantamount to violation of international law. Trudeau exhibited immense pleasantness as he noted that his government does not want to be in a situation "of picking a fight with a significant trading partner", but it is all about "standing up for Canadian sovereignty". Washington too seems to be running out of patience with its strategic ally as senior US law enforcement officials minced no words in stressing that the US administration will "not tolerate foreign nationals targeting American citizens on US soil".

This must make Delhi realise that its extra-territorial plots are in contravention of diplomatic norms, as it undertook similar episodes of target killings inside Pakistan. It is worth noting that India's Ministry of External Affairs held the position that Vikash Yadav, an intelligence officer accused by the US, is no longer an employee of the Indian government. It is a similar excuse that India posted for Kulbushan Jadhav, who was arrested by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan for fanning terrorism. The putting together of the puzzle puts India in the dock.