Hardeep Singh Nijjar: An ISI pawn protected by Canada despite criminal record

Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose criminal activities and links with Pakistan’s ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) have been long-established, was sheltered by Canada despite repeated requests from India for his extradition.
The Canadian government, fully aware of Nijjar’s involvement with ISI and his anti-India activities, placed him on a no-fly list to prevent his extradition.
The Indian government has firmly stated that the deterioration in India-Canada relations is solely the responsibility of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Pakistan’s ISI selected Nijjar to train Khalistan-supporting Sikh extremists, with the goal of destabilising India. Intelligence reports show that in 2014, Nijjar visited Pakistan and met with Jagtar Singh Hawara, a Khalistani terrorist responsible for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. This meeting marked the beginning of Nijjar’s recruitment by the ISI, who saw him as a useful asset in their anti-India agenda.
Despite India’s repeated calls for Nijjar’s extradition, the Canadian government consistently shielded him. His criminal history dates back to 1995, when he was arrested in India.
In 1997, Nijjar fled the country using a fake passport under the name Ravi Sharma, but was apprehended at Toronto Airport by Canadian authorities.
Nijjar claimed political asylum, falsely accusing Indian police of brutality, but his application was rejected. Later, he married a British Columbian woman and applied for immigration sponsorship, but this too was rejected on suspicion that the marriage was a ruse. Yet, in a surprising turn of events, Canada eventually granted Nijjar citizenship.
Nijjar’s criminal history extends far beyond Canada. Intelligence reports indicate that by 2015, the ISI openly supported Nijjar in training Sikh extremists in British Columbia. He also had ties with Babbar Khalsa International’s terrorist leader Jagtar Singh Hawara, and Gajinder Singh, leader of the 1981 Indian Airlines hijacking by Dal Khalsa.
Canadian intelligence officials, including the director of Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Vanessa Lloyd, acknowledged Pakistan’s backing of Khalistani elements as a counter to India’s growing influence in Canada.
In 2018, the then Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, handed over a list of most-wanted terrorists to Trudeau, which included Nijjar.
A Red Corner Notice was issued against him by India in 2014. Canada, however, did not act on India’s requests, and in 2017-2018, Canadian authorities placed Nijjar on a no-fly list, effectively shielding him from extradition.
Despite Canada’s protective stance, India continued to seek Nijjar’s extradition, underscoring the need for accountability and justice.
However, the controversy surrounding Nijjar came to a head after his assassination in June 2023, following which Canada accused Indian agents of being involved in it.
This pushed the diplomatic ties between the two countries to a new low. However, under growing domestic and international pressure, Trudeau later admitted that Canada had not provided any solid evidence to India, but shared only intelligence-based information.
Nijjar’s case exemplifies how Canada’s political calculations, driven by the need to secure Sikh votes in key constituencies, have allowed a known terrorist with ISI ties to evade justice.
India has reiterated that the responsibility for the damaged relationship rests with Trudeau and his government’s willingness to shelter individuals linked to terrorism.