As Canadian diplomats exited India by the October 14, 2024 deadline, Canadian High Commissioner Cameron MacKay spoke out for the first time, linking two alleged plots: the assassination of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023, and the foiled attempt to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the U.S. MacKay referred to the recent U.S. indictments, which detailed a “single plot” emanating from Delhi to target separatists across North America.
India has firmly rejected these accusations, calling them “absurd and politically motivated,” though New Delhi has been more cooperative with the U.S. on related investigations. MacKay criticized the Indian government’s actions, calling it a “strategic error” to attempt violent operations across North America. He also mentioned the significant reputational damage India faces due to the recent U.S. indictment, which named Vikash Yadav, a former Indian official, as the key conspirator in the Pannun murder plot. Yadav had previously been arrested in India on unrelated charges in December 2023, but his involvement in the U.S. case has now come to light.
MacKay stressed that Canada’s top priority is ensuring public safety and holding those accountable for threats on Canadian soil. He urged both nations to keep diplomatic channels open to minimize damage to people-to-people and business ties, though he admitted that repairing relations with India could take a long time. He also noted the differing Indian responses to Canada and the U.S., observing that India has taken a more confrontational stance with Canada but cannot afford the same approach with the U.S. due to their strategic partnership. Despite the tension, MacKay expressed hope for long-term collaboration between the two democracies, though the current crisis has strained their ties deeply.
