Unveiling the Shadows: Was Pakistan Behind Nijjar's Killing?

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, head of the proscribed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), faced a chilling end on 18 June, right outside a gurdwara in Surrey, situated in Canada's British Columbia.

Fresh light on the events of that fateful day comes courtesy of the Washington Post. Surveillance footage studied by the American daily showcased the chilling moments preceding Nijjar's death. As per their report, the assassination was a premeditated operation involving at least six men and two vehicles.

Detailing the grim events, the newspaper described how a white sedan swiftly positioned itself, halting Nijjar's pickup truck. From a concealed waiting spot, two hooded figures emerged, weapons drawn, aiming directly at Nijjar's seat. Within moments, they retreated in the direction from whence they came, the sedan departing from the scene just as swiftly as it had arrived. Eyewitness accounts from the local community paint a horrifying picture – nearly 50 shots were fired, with 34 of them finding their mark on the KTF leader.

Yet, while fingers in Canada point towards India, recent intelligence paints a different picture: Pakistan's ISI may have been the puppeteers of this brutal act.

Earlier reports from News18, leaning on inside sources, suggested the involvement of Rahat Rao and Tariq Kiyani, both allegedly ISI operatives in Canada. Their reported motive went beyond just eliminating Nijjar. By doing so, they aspired to dominate the lucrative drug and immigration markets in the region.

But there’s more to this plot. The ISI, as per these sources, hoped to gain Nijjar's allegiance, swaying him to support gangsters who had recently entered Canada. However, Nijjar's loyalty seemingly lay more with pro-Khalistan entities, positioning him against the ISI's ambitions.

His killing could well have two major outcomes: a rift in Indo-Canadian relations, which would play into ISI's hands, and creating a vacuum in leadership which the ISI is purportedly eager to fill, further solidifying their foothold in Canada.

Earlier reports, such as those from Outlook, cited intelligence sources revealing covert meetings between ISI agents and leaders of various Khalistani factions in Vancouver. This clandestine gathering, attended by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun among others, reportedly brainstormed a strategy named 'Plan-K' aimed at propagating anti-India sentiments extensively.

With this complex web of espionage, political maneuvering, and crime, one thing remains clear: the mystery surrounding Nijjar's death has layers yet to be fully unraveled. As nations point fingers and evidence mounts, the truth might be even more intricate than initially imagined.

Who killed Nijjar?

As the dust around Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination continues to swirl, the crucial question remains: Who truly was behind this audacious act?

Despite many fingers being pointed at Pakistan's ISI, Canadian intelligence is yet to provide conclusive evidence or a breakthrough regarding Nijjar's killing. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, renowned for its investigative prowess, has delved into possible links connecting the assassination to Indian-origin agents. They probed into agents' potential movements in and out of Canada around 18 June, the grim day of the killing. However, their investigative paths, as of now, have led to dead ends.

Offering an alternative perspective, Terry Milewski, renowned for his book Blood for Blood: Fifty Years of the Global Khalistan Project, shed light on a popular Canadian theory during a recent interview with Rediff. He posits that the roots of Nijjar's assassination might be more local than international. According to this theory, the killing was an act of retribution for the death of Ripudaman Singh Malik, an individual implicated in the infamous 1985 Air India bombing. This revenge narrative suggests that loyalists of Malik sought to avenge his death by targeting Nijjar.

Amidst this myriad of allegations and theories, India has extended a hand of collaboration. The nation has reached out to Canada, requesting the sharing of any evidence related to the murder, reaffirming its commitment to act based on concrete information.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, added another dimension to the unfolding saga. On 23 September, he relayed that Canada had already shared what he termed "credible allegations" with India. These allegations suggested the possible involvement of Indian government agents in the killing that transpired in British Columbia. Trudeau emphasized to Reuters, “Canada has shared the credible allegations that I talked about on Monday with India. We did that many weeks ago. We are there to work constructively with India. We hope that they engage with us so that we can get to the bottom of this very serious matter.”

As the plot thickens, with geopolitical ties hanging in the balance, the hope remains for clarity, justice, and truth. The gravity of Nijjar's death is undeniable, and the resolution of this mystery is crucial for all nations involved.