Nijjar murder case: Why India holds more cards than Canada
Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who Trudeau government insists was a peaceful activist and a religious leader, has jeopardised close connections India has been forging with several Western powers, especially the US.
After Trudeau's statement accusing India on the basis of «credible allegations» that point at a «potential link» of Indian agents to Nijjar's killing, the US has come out in support of Canada, asking for a fair investigation into the case and India's cooperation with the Canadian agencies. Australia too has asked for thorough investigation into Trudeau's claims.
Many think if Trudeau has conclusive proof of India's involvement in Nijjar's murder, it will isolate India on the global stage where it has been emerging as an important leader lately.
The West has made heavy diplomatic investment in India in the last few years, especially due to India's position as a counterweight against China and a good alternative to Chinese supply chains. Can the Nijjar incident derail that, even if Trudeau's charges are proven? That seems unlikely even though the murder of a Canadian on Canadian soil would be no small issue for the Western powers who won't want to ignore this incident and let it set a precedent for other countries with targets in the West.
What tilts the case against India is the involvement of Five Eyes partners in the investigations.
US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen has emphasised recently that Trudeau's allegation against India was based on «shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners».
Trudeau's precarious perch
A former top American official has said that India is more important than Canada for the US. Stating that Trudeau’s allegations have led to “greater danger” for Canada than India,
