Canada has been at the forefront in making allegations but has so far lagged behind in providing concrete evidence. India has completely rejected Canada's allegations and termed them as fabricated. India has repeatedly said that Canada's allegations are baseless.
India's response to the two cases involving two pro-Khalistan terrorists has been different. One case is related to the alleged conspiracy to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in America, in which the US Justice Department has alleged that Indian agents were involved in the conspiracy to murder Pannu. In this case, the matter has proceeded in court and two people have been charged. One of the accused has been extradited.
On the other hand, in a similar case of the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, the Canadian government, especially the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, alleged in the Parliament that they have credible evidence that Indian diplomats and agents were involved in the murder of Nijjar. But despite the PM's statement, till date Canada has not been able to provide any concrete evidence. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead near a Gurudwara in Surrey last year i.e. in June 2023. Apart from allegations and counter-allegations, the only progress that has been made in this case is that both the countries have recalled their diplomats and expelled the diplomats of the other.
Although both the US and Canada had sought cooperation from India in the Pannu and Nijjar cases respectively, but while the US has provided concrete evidence in the case and handed over the details of the US court, Canada is only making statements on the basis of intelligence information. . Canada has also borrowed this intelligence from America. America had appreciated the cooperation from India on October 17.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “We are satisfied with the cooperation we are receiving from India… We appreciate this cooperation, and we appreciate their updating us on their investigation. We also provide them with our “Will keep you updated on the investigation.” This comment of the US State Department comes after the Indian Investigation Committee's meeting with American officials regarding the failed conspiracy to assassinate Pannu in America.
On the other hand, Canada has been at the forefront in making allegations while India has so far lagged behind in providing concrete evidence. India has completely rejected Canada's allegations and termed them as fabricated. India has repeatedly said that Canada's allegations are baseless and there is no concrete evidence. India has described Canada's allegations as politically motivated so as to sway Sikh votes. Experts believe that America and Canada may be coordinating mutually in the Pannu and Nijjar cases. But there is a difference in the way they work on this issue. Although, it is America which has in a way linked the Pannu and Nijjar cases but the Canadian agency has not been able to gather evidence except making allegations.
The US State Department has accused former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer Vikas Yadav of allegedly hatching the failed conspiracy to assassinate Pannu. The US court indictment says Yadav used the alias 'Amanat' while communicating with his co-conspirator in the plot to murder Pannu. The FBI released photographs of Yadav and said he was a resident of Pranapura, Haryana. The charges against Yadav were part of a second indictment that was unsealed in a New York court. His alleged co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, has already been charged and extradited to the US.
