ISI Allegedly Orchestrated Nijjar’s Assassination to Strain India-Canada Ties

Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allegedly orchestrated the assassination of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada with the intent to disrupt relations between India and Canada, according to sources cited by India Today. These sources further revealed that the ISI had enlisted criminals to carry out Nijjar’s murder and had exerted pressure on him to provide full support to gangsters who had recently arrived in Canada.

It has been reported that following Nijjar’s assassination, the ISI is actively seeking a replacement for him and is preparing to mobilize pro-Khalistan militants within Canada.

It is worth noting that a diplomatic dispute emerged when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing on Canadian soil on June 18 in British Columbia. However, New Delhi dismissed these allegations as “absurd” and “motivated.”

Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised concerns about organized crime, secessionist activities, violence, and extremism in Canada, emphasizing their interconnectedness. He noted that India had provided Canada with substantial information about organized crime and its leadership operating from Canada, including numerous extradition requests. Jaishankar also expressed worry about threats to Indian diplomats and attacks on Indian consulates in Canada, attributing their permissiveness to political considerations.

Regarding Trudeau’s accusations, Jaishankar assured that India would take action if Canada provided specific information related to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Nijjar.

“We told the Canadians that this is not govt of India’s policy. Secondly, we said if you have something specific and if you have something relevant, let us know. We are open to looking at it…The picture is not complete without the context in a way,” Jaishankar stated.

It is important to note that Canada has not yet publicly presented any evidence to substantiate its claim regarding Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder. In response to Trudeau’s allegations, India has suspended its visa services in Canada.