India confirms meeting between Intel officials from India and Canada but provides no evidence in Nijar case

India-Canada Series: India on Saturday confirmed that there was indeed a meeting between Canadian intelligence officials and National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval in Singapore last month. New Delhi, however, claimed that even during that meeting, Ottawa “did not share” any evidence that would point to the involvement of any Indian official in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijar.

“Yes, the meeting took place… And I repeat that Canada has not shared any evidence with us so far… There are several issues that you are discussing during the meeting,” Jaiswal Subotniy said while answering questions during a media briefing.

This comes after Canada named Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah for authorizing attacks and intelligence gathering on pro-Khalistan Sikh separatists living in Canada. This became known after the publication of The Washington Post the name is Shah was published on October 29.

The name of Shah was confirmed to the American newspaper by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, David Morrison.

Morrison told members of Canada’s national security committee on Tuesday that Amit Shah “ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence gathering against Sikh separatists in Canada.”

The meeting between NSA Doval and representatives of Canadian intelligence, which took place in Singapore, became known during the same meeting with members of the committee. This was reported by Natalie Drouin of the NSA of Canada two days before Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed all the details of the Nijar assassination case and India’s alleged role in it. She also said that the RCMP went public because Canada understood that India would not cooperate with them in the investigation.

Canada asked India to waive diplomatic immunity for “persons of interest” named by the RCMP, which included India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Verma, who was later recalled. Verma did not return to India with other Indian diplomats named by the RCMP.

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India called Canada’s appointment of Amit Shah “absurd and baseless”.

Jaiswal on Saturday also said that India has again summoned a Canadian diplomat based in their mission here in New Delhi to name Shah in the case and handed over a diplomatic note to the official citing the recent meeting of the Standing Committee of Canada on public and national security. October 29.

“The note stated that the Government of India strongly protests against the absurd and baseless references made to the Home Secretary of India before the Committee by Under-Secretary David Morrison,” he said.

The MEA official also added, “In fact, the revelation that senior Canadian officials are deliberately leaking baseless insinuations to the international media as part of a deliberate strategy to discredit India and influence other countries only confirms the Indian government’s long-held view of the current situation. Policy program and model of behavior of the Government of Canada. Such irresponsible actions will have serious consequences for bilateral relations.”

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“Canada condones harassment and intimidation”

Canada is also believed to be conducting audio and video surveillance of Indian diplomats based in the country.

“Some of our consular officials have recently been informed by the Canadian government that they have been and continue to be under audio and video surveillance. Their communication was also intercepted. We have lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government as we consider these actions to be a gross violation of relevant diplomatic and consular conventions,” Jaiswal said.

He added: “On technicalities, the Canadian government cannot justify the fact that it condones harassment and intimidation. Our diplomatic and consular staff already work in an environment of extremism and violence. This action by the Government of Canada aggravates the situation and is inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and practices.”

This comes after Canada named India as a “cyber adversary” in the National Cyber ​​Threat Assessment 2025-2026. This was reported by the Canadian Cyber ​​Security Center.

“Countries aspiring to become new centers of power in the global system, such as India, are creating cyber programs that pose varying levels of threat to Canada,” it said.

“We assess that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors are likely conducting cyber threat activities against Canadian government networks for the purpose of espionage. We believe that the formal bilateral relationship between Canada and India is likely to facilitate state-sponsored cyber threats against Canada. “, says the report, which is published every two years.

On Saturday, India also said it was monitoring the welfare of thousands of Indian students studying in Canada and those working there on temporary work visas.

“Our concerns for their safety remain strong,” Jaiswal said, adding that the Canadian government’s decision not to hold Diwali celebrations shows that Ottawa has “reached a high level of intolerance and extremism.”

Nijar, 45, was killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18, 2023. He was a Canadian citizen of India who ran his own business in Canada and was also a prominent leader of the Khalistan movement there.

Meanwhile, developments in Canada are also related to a similar case ongoing in the United States over an alleged attempt to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannoon, a dual US-Canadian citizen, in New York.

The United States called Canada’s allegations against Amit Shah “disturbing” and said Washington would continue to consult with Ottawa on the matter.

“The allegations made by the Canadian government are troubling and we will continue to consult with the Canadian government regarding these allegations,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said recently during a press briefing.