Haider Ali
A few days after India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, spoke against terrorism and extremism at the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Canadian government and authorities accused India of conducting a brazen campaign of violence on Canadian soil. Jaishankar, who has long accused Pakistan of state-sponsored terrorism, now finds himself representing a government embroiled in one of the most damning international incidents in recent history: the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader. While Jaishankar attempted to shift the narrative at the SCO conclave, Canada’s revelations have rocked the global community. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) uncovered what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to as “clear and compelling evidence” of Indian government agents’ involvement in a series of violent acts targeting dissidents. Six Indian diplomats have already been expelled by Canada in response to what Trudeau called a “threat to public safety.” In this light, Jaishankar’s accusations against Pakistan appear not only sactimonious but also staggeringly out of touch.
Violating International Law: The Global Fallout for India
The Nijjar assassination is not just a political scandal but also a gross violation of international law. Under Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, member states are obligated to refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Canada’s sovereignty was violated when Indian agents carried out a murder on its soil, an act that directly contravenes this cornerstone of international relations. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) also emphasizes the right to life, prohibiting extrajudicial killings in all circumstances. By engaging in covert operations that resulted in assassinations, India has undermined its own standing as a member of the global order. No longer can it claim the moral high ground on terrorism when it is engaging in actions that violate the sovereignty of another nation—a NATO ally, no less. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which governs the conduct of diplomats, has been flagrantly disregarded, compelling Canada to expel Indian diplomats involved in the incident.
The implications of this act transcend bilateral relations and expose a broader crisis within the framework of international law and norms. In the post-9/11 world, states have increasingly justified extraterritorial actions under the pretext of counterterrorism, thus blurring the line between national security imperatives and the sanctity of state sovereignty. While international law unequivocally prohibits such violations, its enforcement mechanisms remain weak, particularly when involving powerful states. The Nijjar assassination underscores the selective adherence to international norms by global powers, where realpolitik often supersedes legal commitments. Moreover, India’s actions undermine multilateral efforts, such as those led by the United Nations, to foster a rules-based international order, calling into question the credibility of institutions that lack the authority to impose meaningful consequences on violations of sovereignty. This incident thus highlights a growing tension between the principles of sovereignty and the evolving dynamics of global security, with potentially long-lasting ramifications for the global rule of law.
The Role of the Five Eyes
What makes this incident even more damning for India is that the evidence against it was shared among Canada’s Five Eyes allies, a powerful intelligence alliance comprising the U.S., the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Therefore, this is not merely a bilateral issue between Canada and India. If anything, it is a matter of global security. India’s actions have now been scrutinized by some of the world’s most powerful intelligence networks, making it impossible for Jaishankar or anyone else in the Indian government to sweep this under the rug. The Five Eyes alliance has corroborated Trudeau’s claims, further denting India on the world stage and stripping away any pretense of innocence.
The Role of Pakistan and Canada
Canada has led the charge in calling out India’s actions, but Pakistan has also accused that country of involvement in nearly 20 killings since 2020. Pakistani authorities have gathered evidence, including financial transactions, arrest records, and testimonies,that point directly to the role of India’s intelligence apparatus. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has consistently denied these allegations, calling them “false” and “anti-India propaganda,” but the mounting evidence tells a different story. This is a moment for Pakistan to align with Canada and other nations in exposing India’s transgressions. The shared intelligence from Five Eyes partners bolsters Pakistan’s claims that India has been running a covert campaign of extrajudicial killings, and together, they can push for accountability on the global stage.
Moreover, this incident offers Pakistan a rare diplomatic opportunity to shift the global narrative around its own involvement in regional conflicts and longstanding accusations of harboring militants. By collaborating with Canada and leveraging the international condemnation of India’s actions, Pakistan can reposition itself as a victim of Indian aggression rather than a perpetrator of state-sponsored terrorism. This alignment with Canada, especially within multilateral forums like the United Nations, could open new avenues for Pakistan to seek justice and elevate its standing on the global stage. Additionally, Pakistan’s ability to present itself as an advocate for international law while highlighting India’s violations, could improve its relations with Western nations, many of whom have historically been critical of its counterterrorism policies. The joint efforts of Canada and Pakistan may not only hold India accountable but also reshape the regional balance of power and global perceptions of state-sponsored violence.
No Leg to Stand On
India’s self-righteousness is laid bare. How can India, now exposed for targeting dissidents abroad, continue to lecture Pakistan or any other country on terrorism? The Indian government has long claimed that Pakistan harbors terrorists and sponsors violence across borders. But now, it is India that stands accused of conducting violent operations overseas. The world sees through this dichotomy and façade. India can no longer claim to be a champion of peace and security while engaging in clandestine campaigns of violence. India cannot lecture others about state-sponsored terrorism when it has been caught, quite literally, red-handed.
Haider Ali is an MPhil Political Science Scholar at the School of Integrated Social Sciences, The University of Lahore.
The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pakistan Politico.