The Canadian government has made a surprising reversal, retracting its decision to implement additional security screening measures for travellers flying to India, just days after the policy was announced. This move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi, which have been stirred by the ongoing controversy surrounding the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar earlier this year.
Initially, Transport Minister Anita Anand had unveiled the enhanced screening measures, which were designed and carried out by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). The measures required more rigorous screening of both passengers and their baggage before entering restricted areas at Canadian airports, specifically targeting flights bound for India. However, reports from passengers and airport authorities revealed that these added procedures led to significant delays and long queues at airport security checkpoints. The measures, which were introduced ostensibly to improve security following recent threats, seem to have caused unintended disruptions, much to the frustration of travellers.
The decision to increase screenings came in the wake of a bomb threat aboard an Air India flight traveling from New Delhi to Chicago in October. The flight was forced to divert to Iqaluit in Canada, where extensive inspections revealed no explosives on board. Although the bomb threat turned out to be a hoax, it prompted concerns over the safety of flights originating from India, especially given the rising tensions between the two countries.
Compounding the security concerns, Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun recently issued another public threat aimed at Air India flights. Pannun, who holds dual Canadian and US citizenship, warned that flights from Air India should be avoided from November 1 to 19, due to what he referred to as the "40th anniversary of the Sikh genocide" in India. Pannun, a leader of the banned Sikhs for Justice group, has a long history of making similar threats, which has raised alarm bells within Canadian security agencies.
At the heart of the diplomatic tension between Canada and India is the dispute over the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistani separatist. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations against the Indian government, alleging its involvement in Nijjar's killing on Canadian soil, have only served to deepen the rift between the two nations. India has fiercely denied the allegations, calling them "absurd" and claiming they were politically motivated.
Further complicating the situation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) recently accused Indian agents of engaging in criminal activities on Canadian soil, including murder and intimidation. In response, both India and Canada expelled senior diplomats, and several areas of cooperation, including intelligence sharing and trade agreements, have been suspended, resulting in a serious diplomatic crisis.
The recent decision to retract the additional security measures comes amid mounting pressure on the Canadian government to ease tensions with India. The policy had been widely criticized for inconveniencing passengers, many of whom belong to the large Indian diaspora community in Canada. The rollback of these measures is seen as an attempt to alleviate some of the strain and reduce the number of disruptions the traveling public faces. However, the diplomatic standoff between the two countries remains unresolved, and both sides are unlikely to back down from their respective positions any time soon.
The tensions have also had an impact on trade and cultural relations between the two nations. The Indian government has expressed displeasure over Canada's handling of the Nijjar case, and Canada's decision to take a firm stance against India's actions has only fueled animosity. This ongoing dispute has placed both countries in a precarious position, with each side maintaining its narrative and accusing the other of interference in domestic affairs.
As the diplomatic standoff continues, the situation is expected to have long-lasting effects on the relationship between Canada and India. The rollback of the security measures is a small step in a much larger geopolitical and diplomatic battle, and it is uncertain whether it will lead to any meaningful change in the broader context of their bilateral relations. Given the complexity of the issues at hand—ranging from allegations of extrajudicial killings to national security threats—the road to resolution appears fraught with challenges.
