The chorus is growing for the Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau to resign amid an internal revolt by Liberal MPs. This latest rebellion comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Canada over how Trudeau is handling the Khalistan separatism.
As Trudeau’s leadership teeters on the brink, the Canadian prime minister faces a far more significant threat than domestic political discord: his country’s potential descent into a dangerous trajectory similar to Pakistan’s if he continues his passive stance on Khalistan separatism. The world saw how Pakistan’s coddling of terrorist factions, once hailed as a geopolitical strategy, went out of control and backfired spectacularly. Many experts warn that Canada could follow a dangerously similar path.
Echo of Pakistan
In the case of Pakistan, the state supported terrorist organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Taliban, hoping to use them for strategic gains in India and Afghanistan. Over time, these groups became too powerful to control, eventually turning against the state itself.
“You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your neighbor,” Hillary Clinton famously warned Pakistan during her tenure as US Secretary of State. The same warning may come true for Canada if it continues to turn a blind eye to the activities of Khalistan movement.
Short term strategy, long term disaster
At first glance, Trudeau’s approach may seem politically expedient. His alliance with Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party kept the minority government afloat, enabling him to survive confidence motions in parliament. The Sikh population, though small in number, wields disproportionate political influence in several ridings due to its concentrated geographical presence. But this approach comes at a price.
India has repeatedly raised concerns that Canada is a hub for Sikh extremism outside India, accusing Trudeau of allowing anti-Indian separatist activities to flourish for political gain. This led to strained relations between the two nations. Diplomatic relations between the two nations have reached an all-time low, with mutual expulsions of diplomats and escalating rhetoric.
To make matters worse, Trudeau has now admitted to a public inquiry that he had no “hard evidence” when he went public with allegations against India, relying mostly on intelligence that remains murky.
The Khalistani Network: A Criminal Enterprise
The Khalistani network is far from a mere ideological or separatist movement. It is a well-oiled, transnational criminal enterprise. From drug smuggling to money laundering, the movement’s activities span different continents. In the 1990s, Canadian authorities became aware of these activities when drug dealers linked to Khalistan organizations were killed in gang-related violence. And as recently as 2023, prominent Canadian journalists of Indian origin faced vicious attacks for speaking out against Khalistani, with little action from law enforcement.
Ignoring the warning signs
Despite these developments, the Trudeau administration appears unwilling to address the growing threat. Government experts once took Khalistani extremism seriously, mentioning it in their annual public reports on terrorism. But those references have since been scrubbed, reportedly under pressure from the powerful Sikh lobby. In a curious twist of history, Canada, once tough on terrorism, has allowed political considerations to undermine its vigilance.
Just as Pakistan is now grappling with the consequences of its indulgence of extremist factions, Canada may find itself in a similar predicament if it does not quickly recalibrate its policy. The Khalistanis, emboldened by Canada’s perceived protection, may soon turn their violence inland. Indo-Canadian citizens, including journalists and business owners, have already become targets of intimidation and extortion, with limited recourse to law enforcement.
Economic and diplomatic consequences
India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a major player in global geopolitics, has made it clear it will not tolerate Canada’s equivocal stance on terrorism. The expulsion of Canadian diplomats from New Delhi and the withdrawal of its high commissioner is just the beginning. India could reduce trade ties, undermining Canada’s economic interests.
An economic downturn can be severe. Canada exported $3.8 billion worth of goods to India in 2022, and those numbers are expected to shrink dramatically if relations continue to deteriorate. Additionally, as India becomes an increasingly critical player in global supply chains, Canada risks being left out of key trade agreements in Asia.
What are they saying?
Liberal MP Sean Casey acknowledged that the Trudeau government has become a major concern for voters in his constituency: “The people I represent have rejected him, they’ve had enough, they want change.” His comments reflect a broader frustration within the party about how , in which Trudeau addresses key issues.
“What we have heard today only confirms what we have been saying consistently all along – Canada has not presented us with any evidence to support the serious allegations it has chosen to make against India and Indian diplomats. Responsibility for the damage that this gentleman’s behavior has caused Relations between India and Canada is solely up to Prime Minister Trudeau,” the MEA said in a statement.
It’s time for a reckoning
The chorus calling for Trudeau’s resignation is growing louder in his own Liberal Party. Several MPs, including PEI’s Sean Casey, expressed concern not only about the domestic policy failures, but the larger, looming crisis that Trudeau’s foreign policy missteps have created. As public discontent grows, the Prime Minister may have to face a political payback sooner than expected.
(With information from agencies)
