Canadian officials admit to leaking ‘information’ against India

What a story

Two senior Canadian government officials have admitted to leaking intelligence against India. Washington Post.

This was reportedly before Canadian authorities publicly accused Indian government agents of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Adviser Nathalie Drouin said during a debate in Parliament that a senior Indian official was involved in a plot against Sikh separatists in Canada.

Drouin explains the nature of the information leak

Drouin said she did not need Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s approval to release the information.

She also claimed that no “secret information” was shared. Washington Post before India expelled six diplomats on Thanksgiving Day.

The leak was part of a communications strategy planned by Drouin and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison to present the Canadian side of the diplomatic dispute to American media.

Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada are rising

Drouin further explained that they provided unclassified information about their cooperation with India and evidence linking the Indian government to illegal activities in Canada.

The diplomatic row between India and Canada intensified after New Delhi expelled six Canadian diplomats.

This came in response to Ottawa’s decision to name the Indian High Commissioner as a person of interest in the investigation into Nijjar’s murder.

Secret meeting and public criticism

Washington Post reported on a confidential meeting between Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart in Singapore.

At the meeting, Canadian officials allegedly presented evidence of Indian collusion with the Bishnoi gang to carry out attacks on Sikh separatists in Canada.

Drouin confirmed the meeting took place on Sept. 12 and was attended by herself, Morrison and RCMP Deputy Commissioner Mark Flynn.

Trudeau’s handling of the situation has been criticized

A parliamentary committee criticized Drouin and Morrison for not sharing the information with the public before passing it on to the newspaper.

Conservative public safety critic Raquel Dancho called the move “completely unfair to Canadian society.”

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhaime backed Drouin’s contention that the leaked information was not classified, saying it was withheld from the public due to an ongoing investigation.

Trudeau’s actions highlight Canada’s leniency: analyst

National security analyst Joe Adam George criticized Trudeau’s approach to the situation as misguided and counterproductive.

He argued that Trudeau’s actions only highlighted Canada’s leniency towards international interference and cross-border criminal activity.

George highlighted India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and separatism under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He noted that Khalistani separatism is allegedly supported by extremists in Canada with the support of Pakistan.