Trudeau accuses India's government of involvement in killing of Canadian Sikh leader

Kanishka Bombing case: On 23 June 1985 Air India's Flight 182 was blown up near Ireland and 329 people died. On the same day, another explosion took place at Tokyo's Narita airport's transit baggage building where baggage was being transferred from Cathay Pacific Flight No CP 003 to Air India Flight 301 which was scheduled for Bangkok. Both aircraft were loaded with explosives from Canadian airports. Flight 301 got saved because of a delay in its departure. This was considered as a major setback to R&AW for failing to gather enough intelligence about the Khalistani militants.[160][161][162]

In April 2020, it was reported that R&AW and IB had launched an extensive operation in 2009–2015, to influence the Canadian government and politicians into supporting India's interests.[163] Canada has long being accused by India for being a safe haven for khalistani separatists.[164]

In July 2020, Canada had put two Sikh men under No-fly list after Canadian Security Intelligence Service had gotten information, that both were going travel to Pakistan and carry out a ISI-backed terrorist attack inside India. One of the separatists was identified as the son of Lakhbir Singh Rode, a well known Khalistani terrorist.[165] The Information was provided by R&AW under the liaison relationship.

On June 19, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani leader and chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force was shot to death outside the parking lot of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.[166] Nijjar was accused of training and funding members of the separatist group and had been declared a terrorist by India, who put a bounty of ₹1,000,000 (equivalent to ₹1.2 million or US$15,000 in 2023) for information leading to his arrest.[167] This was heavily seen as an R&AW assassination operation by not only followers of Nijjar, but also from Canadian officials.[168][169] On 18 September Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada formally accused the Indian government of the killing and acknowledged the expulsion of a prominent Indian diplomat responsible for R&AW activities in the country.[170]