Ottawa - After making the startling claim that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a Khalistani extremist in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada stated on Tuesday that Ottawa had no intention of escalating the situation with India.

Meanwhile, the United States cautiously supported his call for an investigation into the killing. Trudeau explained to reporters before a cabinet meeting, 'We are not seeking to incite or escalate tensions. We are merely presenting the information as we know it.' He further emphasized the need for the Indian government to take the matter seriously, stating, 'We are doing just that.'

Trudeau stressed that Canada would maintain composure and adhere to democratic principles and values while following the evidence. He justified the decision to make the allegations public, saying, 'Canadians have the right to be informed when events like this occur.' This explosive claim by Trudeau has left the global diplomatic community astonished, given the questionable nature of the accusations. In a speech to the Canadian Parliament, he asserted that Canadian intelligence agencies were actively pursuing credible leads connecting agents of the Indian government to the killing of a Canadian citizen.

Trudeau faced significant backlash on social media for allegedly rushing into this matter, possibly for domestic political support, without convincing allies of the necessity to confront India. Reports suggest that he attempted to persuade the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to issue a joint statement condemning the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar as a violation of international norms. However, his counterparts advised him to address the issue privately, a course of action that Ottawa claims was followed.

Following strong criticism from New Delhi for allowing Khalistani extremists in Canada to threaten Indian officials and diplomatic properties, Trudeau chose to make his allegations public, leading to a diplomatic crisis that has strained bilateral relations and affected the broader partnership the United States is attempting to build with India to counter China.

On Tuesday, the Biden White House supported Trudeau's call for an investigation, expressing deep concern over the allegations and emphasizing the importance of Canada's investigation and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Australia also expressed deep concern and noted ongoing investigations into the matter, stating that they are closely engaged with their partners on developments and have conveyed their concerns to India at senior levels.

Trudeau's bombshell revelation coincided with the start of an independent public inquiry in Quebec, initiated by the government, into allegations of foreign interference in Canadian affairs by China, Russia, and others. Although India was not explicitly included in the inquiry's terms of reference, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated that reviewing India's actions falls within the inquiry's mandate, acknowledging the seriousness of these allegations.

In the midst of this turmoil, Ottawa abruptly canceled a highly anticipated trade mission to India scheduled for the second week of October, offering no explanation for the decision.

India and Canada maintain modest bilateral trade of approximately $8 billion annually. In recent years, Canada has become the second most favored destination for Indian students after the United States. In 2022, the number of Indian students studying in Canada increased by 47% to nearly 320,000, constituting about 40% of all international students. While these students contribute to Canada's revenue and support subsidized education for domestic students, India, especially Punjab, also benefits from remittances from the sizable Indian diaspora in Canada.