In a revelation that has added fuel to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, Canadian National Security Adviser Nathalie Drouin admitted on Tuesday to leaking intelligence to The Washington Post implicating Indian involvement in a series of alleged violent activities within Canada. Drouin disclosed that the decision to leak the information was a strategic choice, preempting any official notification to the Indian government or Canadian public.
This development comes as a diplomatic row intensifies between the two nations following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier claims linking India to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen, in June 2023. India has consistently denied the allegations, deeming them “baseless” and politically driven, and has called on Canada to provide credible evidence to substantiate its claims.
Drouin, alongside Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison, admitted to devising the leak as part of a communications strategy, with the goal of securing coverage from a major U.S. outlet to bolster Canada’s stance on the ongoing foreign interference controversy. This came after recent accusations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alleging that Indian agents were involved in criminal activities in Canada. Morrison reinforced these claims during his testimony, pointing fingers at India for “directing violent operations” within Canadian borders.
The leaked intelligence follows Trudeau’s controversial statement in September 2023, in which he accused Indian agents of potentially orchestrating Nijjar’s murder. However, Trudeau admitted that the allegations were based solely on intelligence and lacked hard evidence. Despite multiple requests from New Delhi for proof, Canada has yet to provide specific evidence to support the accusations. Trudeau’s initial claim led Canada to expel six Indian diplomats, including India’s high commissioner, which was reciprocated by India with the expulsion of six Canadian diplomats.
In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strongly worded statement, rejecting the allegations and accusing Trudeau’s administration of using the claims for political gain. The MEA condemned the accusations, labeling them part of a “political agenda” aimed at vote-bank politics.
The deteriorating relations between the two countries mark a significant diplomatic crisis, with repercussions across trade, intelligence-sharing, and diplomatic interactions.
