Canadian MP Sukhminder Dhaliwal Rejects ISI Ties, Assures India of Collaboration

Canadian Member of Parliament Sukhminder Dhaliwal, also known as Sukh Singh Dhaliwal, hailing from Surrey, has vehemently denied any connections with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These allegations have surfaced in the wake of accusations linking ISI to the assassination of pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. An aide to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed these claims and pledged full cooperation with the Indian government in the ongoing investigation.

Canadian Member of Parliament Sukhminder Dhaliwal, also known as Sukh Singh Dhaliwal, hailing from Surrey, has vehemently denied any connections with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These allegations have surfaced in the wake of accusations linking ISI to the assassination of pro-Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. An aide to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed these claims and pledged full cooperation with the Indian government in the ongoing investigation.

Dhaliwal, in response to the allegations, stated, "As a Member of Parliament, I would not maintain close ties with foreign agencies. The information being circulated is entirely baseless and irresponsible." He categorically refuted any affiliations with foreign intelligence services.

When questioned about Prime Minister Trudeau's mention of Nijjar's killing upon his return to Canada from the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Dhaliwal clarified that the Canadian government had already raised the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before Trudeau's visit to India. Trudeau had publicly acknowledged the involvement of a foreign state agent in Nijjar's murder upon returning to Canada.

Pressed further on whether the "foreign agent" could be ISI, Dhaliwal countered by suggesting that it was the "Indian agency" that was implicated in Nijjar's killing. Despite repeated Indian insistence, the Canadian government has not provided concrete evidence to support these allegations. Dhaliwal himself appeared uncertain when confronted with this question but hinted that evidence would be presented in court to maintain the integrity of the justice system.

Dhaliwal emphasized that Prime Minister Trudeau was committed to upholding justice and did not want to compromise the legal process. He also noted that Canada had the support of the Five Eyes alliance, which includes Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and New Zealand, in sharing intelligence information.

The Indian government has consistently raised concerns about Indian criminal gangs operating in Canada, and they have sent 24 Letter Rogatory to Ottawa in this regard. Dhaliwal assured that Canada had always been cooperative with India and stated that if the Indian government provided evidence, the Trudeau government would collaborate in addressing criminal activities in Canada.

Dhaliwal stressed the strong relationship between India and Canada, highlighting that the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, particularly at a place of worship, was a cause for concern. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. He was the leader of the proscribed Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and had been declared a terrorist by India under the Unlawful Criminal Activities Act (UAPA) in 2020.

Nijjar had been involved in various aspects of the KTF's operations, including networking, training, financing, and operationalization. His activities had drawn international attention, with Interpol issuing a red corner notice against him in 2014.