Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid email address
SIGN UP
I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice
Thanks for signing up to the
Evening Headlines email
{{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}
American spy agencies shared intelligence with Canada regarding the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
After two masked men killed Nijjar outside of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia in June, the US provided Ottawa with information to support Canada’s conclusion that Indian “agents” carried out the brazen assassination.
The US wasn’t aware of the killing ahead of time, and did not share any “smoking gun” evidence,” but helped provide additional context to its close northern ally, US intelligence sources told The New York Times.
A banner with the image of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of his June 2023 killing, in Surrey, Canada
(REUTERS)
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the killing, in which New Delhi denies any involvement.
Canada reportedly has human and signals intelligence backing up their theory of the assassination, including communications involving Indian officials in Canada, CBC reports.
Recommended India had been riding a geopolitical high. But it comes to the UN with a mess on its hands US diplomat says intelligence from 'Five Eyes' nations helped Canada to link India to Sikh's killing Intelligence input on Sikh leader’s murder came from Canada’s Five Eyes ally, report says
"I can assure you that the decision to share these allegations on the floor of the House of Commons … was not done lightly," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday. "It was done with the utmost seriousness."
The killing has sparked a diplomatic crisis between Canada and India. Canada has the largest Sikh community outside of India, home to about 770,000 people.
Ottawa expelled a senior diplomat working for Indian intelligence, while India has expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and indefinitely suspended visa services in all categories for Canadians.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, advocated for the creation of Khalistan, an independent nation for India’s Sikh population that would include part of the state of Punjab.
“I am a Sikh nationalist who believes in and supports Sikhs’ right to self-determination and independence of Indian occupied Punjab through a future referendum,” he wrote in a 2016 open letter.
Recommended India had been riding a geopolitical high. But it comes to the UN with a mess on its hands US diplomat says intelligence from 'Five Eyes' nations helped Canada to link India to Sikh's killing Biden faces foreign policy trouble spots as he aims to highlight his experience on the global stage
The Indian government declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020. It accused him of leading the Khalistan Tiger Force militant organisation.
On 18 June, as Nijjar was leaving a Sikh temple, two masked men blocked in his car and killed him with automatic weapons, firing an estimated 30 to 50 shots.
More about Hardeep Singh Nijjar gurdwara US Canada Sikh
Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments
1/ 2US shared intelligence on killing of Sikh leader with Canada
US shared intelligence on killing of Sikh leader with Canada
A banner with the image of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of his June 2023 killing, in Surrey, Canada
REUTERS
US shared intelligence on killing of Sikh leader with Canada
A banner with the image of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar is seen at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara temple, site of his June 2023 killing, in Surrey, Canada
REUTERS
? Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe
Already subscribed? Log in