[Answered] Examine the key factors leading to the recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. How do national security and cultural differences contribute to these frictions? Discuss the implications for India’s foreign relations with Western democracies.

The recent diplomatic tensions between India and Canada highlight complex and longstanding issues involving national security concerns, cultural differences, and geopolitical challenges.

Key Factors Leading to Diplomatic Tensions

• Khalistani Separatism in Canada: India has accused Canada of being a safe haven for Khalistani separatists. Indian authorities perceive Canada’s political support and leniency toward Khalistani figures as a threat to India’s territorial integrity.
• Electoral Considerations in Canada: Sikhs represent only 2% of Canada’s population but hold disproportionate political influence due to geographic concentration and active civic engagement. Trudeau’s government has previously avoided direct condemnation of Khalistani extremism, possibly to maintain political support, but this has led to India’s perception that Canada panders to extremist Sikh factions.
• Extradition and Legal Standards: Canada has been reluctant to extradite individuals linked to Khalistani activities to India, citing Canada’s stringent legal standards and concerns about human rights in India. This discrepancy in legal standards has been a consistent point of contention between the two nations.
• National Security: India views Canada’s lenient stance on Khalistani separatism as a direct threat to its security and integrity. In contrast, Canada prioritizes civil liberties, including freedom of expression, which permits advocacy for causes like Khalistan as long as they are non-violent.
• Cultural Differences: Additionally, the perception of the Air India bombing as a “foreign tragedy” reflects cultural differences in how the two countries view the legacy of this attack. Canada’s delayed recognition of the victims’ plight and the failure of the bombing investigation due to systemic racism and institutional failures have contributed to India’s mistrust of Canada’s commitment to combating Khalistani terrorism.

Implications for India’s Foreign Relations with Western Democracies

• Trust and Cooperation Challenges: The recent tensions highlight India’s concerns with Western democracies’ commitment to countering extremist groups that target India’s sovereignty
• Legal and Diplomatic Gaps: India’s difficulty in securing extraditions from other countries, including the U.K. and the U.S., reflects the broader diplomatic and legal gaps. Western democracies’ reluctance to cooperate fully on extraditions or intelligence sharing related to extremism could impact India’s security strategy and reinforce skepticism about its Western allies.
• Impact on India’s Strategic Autonomy: While Western democracies, particularly the U.S., view India as a key strategic ally in the Indo-Pacific region, such diplomatic tensions could lead India to question the reliability of Western democracies in addressing its core security concerns.

Conclusion

India and Canada must bridge these gaps, potentially through diplomatic dialogue, clearer extradition frameworks, and mutual respect for each nation’s security and legal standards.