Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Indian national Nikhil Gupta faces murder-for-hire charges over an alleged plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen and leading organizer of the Khalistan referendum.

Lacking the clout of Israel or China makes it all the more difficult for India to get away with pre-emptive assassinations of individuals it views as threats to its security.

While New Delhi denies any involvement in extraterritorial killings, mounting body counts of anti-Indian militants overseas raise suspicions to the contrary.

41 of Canada’s 62 diplomats in India have been removed in the latest escalation of the dispute over the slaying of a Sikh separatist in Canada.

The move comes amid heated exchanges, diplomat expulsions, visa denials, and fraying diplomatic relations.

“The present ‘movement’ is diaspora-led, fed by the ISI and implicitly supported by some countries, most prominently Canada, for geostrategic reasons and domestic political imperatives.”

The present state of India-Canada relations is something that Canberra is keen to avoid.

Western and Indian officials will use the sidelines of the UNGA meeting to limit the fallout of Canada’s assassination allegations against New Delhi.

While its Western allies have declared their concern and urged full investigations, none has condemned India for its alleged killing of a Canadian.

India is a partner against China, but the rationale for countering China is precisely that Beijing engages in the sort of activities which the Canadian PM has accused India of undertaking.

Bilateral relations have been strained. India alleges that Canada shelters Khalistan terrorists and trade talks have been derailed.