Canada and India Expel Diplomats Amid Tensions Over Criminal Investigations

Diplomatic relations between Canada and India have reached a new low following a tit-for-tat expulsion of top diplomats. The move comes amid escalating tensions over the ongoing investigation into the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that six Indian diplomats would be declared “persona non grata” and ordered to leave the country. India responded swiftly, expelling several Canadian envoys in retaliation.

The dispute between the two nations has been simmering since the assassination of Nijjar, a prominent figure in the pro-Khalistan movement, which advocates for the creation of a separate Sikh state in India. Canadian police have accused Indian intelligence agents of being involved in “homicides, extortion, and violent acts” targeting Canadian supporters of the movement.

A recent meeting between Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Laos last week failed to ease tensions between the two countries. The expulsion of diplomats marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic standoff and raises concerns about the future of bilateral relations.

This is a developing story: Harvard Media News will give updates on the situation as more information becomes available.