Today, the pro-Khalistan motion seems to have little traction inside India however retains some maintain among the many Sikh diaspora all over the world. These communities are primarily concentrated in Canada, the US, the UK and Australia – 4 of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. 

New Delhi stays satisfied Ottawa is just not doing sufficient to cease those who India accuses of being terrorists; Canada counters that strain teams ought to be free to precise their views so long as they achieve this peacefully. 

Observers seen that on the latest G20 assembly in New Delhi, most overseas leaders have been picked up on the airport in both a Mercedes or an Audi however Trudeau was met by an previous Toyota. If the insult was calculated to maintain the Canadian prime minister quiet it didn’t work. 

He raised issues about Nijjar’s homicide with Modi “personally and directly”. The official Indian readout from the assembly accused Canada of being a “nexus” of non secular militancy, “organised crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking”. Trade talks between the 2 international locations are – unsurprisingly – on ice. 

Clearly, there’s tons that continues to be unknown about this case. But the truth that two erstwhile pleasant nations are buying and selling such caustic blows implies that there has already been an enormous failure of diplomacy. 

Even if solely rhetorically, India’s method to overseas coverage normally and its marketing campaign towards lively supporters of militant separatism based mostly overseas has stepped up a number of notches. 

If it turns on the market’s any foundation to Canada’s claims, Western powers must completely reassess their assumptions. Part of India’s enchantment as a rival to China is that it’s a democracy that respects the rule of regulation.

Those international locations with giant Sikh communities – the UK included – must tread extraordinarily fastidiously, particularly within the febrile ambiance that may undoubtedly construct forward of India’s subsequent basic election in May.

Foreign affairs specialists say there are rising options that New Delhi believes London is just not taking India’s issues concerning the perceived problem of Khalistani radicals significantly. 

This could also be one of many the explanation why commerce talks between the 2 international locations have stalled and why Rishi Sunak’s deliberate assembly with Modi on the eve of the G20 summit was abruptly cancelled.

There continues to be an ideal deal that the West doesn’t totally perceive about India. It had higher begin studying rapidly.