 "A supporter waves a Khalistan flag during a protest outside India's consulate after Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised the prospect of New Delhi's involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Vancouver, British Columbia. File photo/Reuters")
India has been in a firefighting mode this week as the Khalistan problem refuses to die down. Ties with Canada have plummeted with Justin Trudeau accusing New Delhi of playing a role in Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. The two countries have expelled each other’s diplomats and have been trading charges.
There are also allegations from the US. Washington has charged a former Indian intelligence officer, Vikas Yadav, for allegedly orchestrating a failed plot to kill Khalistanani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. However, India said that the “individual” named by the US Justice Department is no longer associated with the government.
India and Pakistan ties were also back in the limelight, as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. There was a brief handshake with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a speech where Jaishankar slammed Pakistan and China, and most importantly, a first face-to-face conversation between India and Pakistan leaders on the sidelines. We have been tracking this story closely .
In the US, elections are nearing and both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are in campaign mode, giving interviews, attending charity dinners and whatnot. The Republican candidate is also throwing in some dance moves… awkward much.
In West Asia, in another big win for Israel, it eliminated the top Hamas leader and architect of the 7 October attacks, Yayha Sinwar. Does this mean the end of the Israel-Hamas conflict?
All this and more in our weekly roundup of stories from around the world.
1. India vs Canada… that’s the big fight that has unfolded in the last few days. The rift over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar took a dramatic turn this week after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that there was “clear and compelling evidence” that the Indian government was involved in activities threatening public safety. The Canadian government designated Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and other diplomats in the country as “persons of interest” in the ongoing investigation.
India’s External Affairs Ministry refuted the charges. What followed was both sides expelling diplomats. But who was Nijjar ? How did the issue erupt once again ? The explainers tell you all you need.
2. Diplomacy is a tough act. Often nations don’t see eye to eye but it’s not every day that diplomats are expelled. As ties between India and Canada hit rock bottom, experts have drawn parallels to New Delhi and Islamabad. From inaction against terror groups to acting out keeping in mind domestic politics, today a lot seems common between Pakistan and Canada. We make the comparisons .
3. A close second to the big American dream comes the Canadian. Those migrating to the North American country have quadrupled since 2013. It is still the go-to destination for Indian students, many who prefer it to the United States. Forty per cent of international students in Canada come from India.
Indians are among the largest overseas communities in the country and they impact everything from politics to economy. In this story, we look at why the desis matter to Trudeau and Canada .
4. India has a Khalistan problem not only in Canada but also in the US. Sikhs of Justice founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is declared a terrorist by India. However, he is an American citizen and now an alleged plot to assassinate him is being investigated. The US Justice Department has named Vikash Yadav in the case. Who is he? We explain .
5. Now let’s talk about our neighbour, Pakistan. S Jaishankar’s visit to the SCO Summit in Islamabad was the first by an Indian foreign minister in nine years. He had a brief encounter with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and then spoke to his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Ishaq Dar twice. That’s some progress, considering there has been no formal dialogue between the two nations for close to a decade. So where do Pakistan-India ties stand today? We analyse .
6. In West Asia, Israel scored a big win. It eliminated Yayha Sinwar, the top Hamas leader who was one of the masterminds of the horrific 7 October attacks. It wasn’t a planned strike but a routine military operation that led to the end of Israel’s Enemy No 1. Here’s how it unfolded .
7. Is yet another war in the making… this time in Asia? Tensions have escalated between North and South Korea. Pyongyang has blown up roads connecting to the South and placed army units on the border. It accused Seoul of sending drones to its capital. South Korea has asked the North “not to act rashly”. But what’s going on?
8. The US presidential election will be held in 15 days. Both former President Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are campaigning extensively, giving interviews and taking potshots at each other. Nothing out of the ordinary except that Trump decided to show off his dance moves at a rally. It sent tongues wagging. Here’s why .
That’s our curated reading list which will bring you up to date with the news if you’ve had a busy week. Have a good Sunday.
PS: We’ve been covering the US election extensively. You can follow all the updates here .