As the Middle East conflict showed, the UK has a pro Hamas, and Pro Hezbollah problem. There is an extreme minority who tacitly support terrorism as a legitimate means for political goals. They don’t see that as a problem. This is different to someone who disagrees with Israel’s existence, or wants a Palestinian State. For the record, I would not want a Palestinian State, given it would be the third terrorist run State, after Afghanistan and Iran. There are those who will say, “yes but… we should just kill ourselves”. When their Government is civilised they can have a State. When it is Hamas, they can go to hell. And I in the West am not taking the blame for the existence of Hamas.
Canada also has an extremist minority in Khalistanis who were responsible for the largest terror act in history prior to 9/11 – the bombing of an Air India plane. They too want a Caliphate.
India and Canada’s relations have deteriorated sharply in recent months, reaching their lowest point in decades, with significant geopolitical and economic implications for both nations.
The primary cause of the diplomatic rift is Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public accusation that Indian agents were involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Khalistani separatist leader, in June 2023. India has forcefully denied these allegations, and tensions have escalated with both countries expelling diplomats.
When I worked in the US Congress a little old man would daily deliver letters about supposed wrongs. It is the mindset of Hamas. The seeing of victimhood in everything. It’s not a political but a psychological problem which flourishes in countries like Canada where being a victim is encouraged.
Economically, Canada is already seeing setbacks. India is Canada’s largest source of international students, who make up nearly 40% of study permit holders. This educational link could suffer if tensions persist, affecting Canadian universities and the broader economy. Moreover, trade talks, which had shown promise with the possibility of a free trade deal, have been halted.
For India no longer willing to cow-tow to the West, it’s something the West is yet to come accustomed to. They’re not used to strong Indian voices.
If India is doing what Israel has long done and sanctioning extra-judicial killings it seems it is not a ‘no-brainer’ positive strategy any more than it has been for Israel. The problem ultimately is at the grassroots where chest beating people feeling inadequate in their daily lives have to take to religion and make up victim status. It’s the Hamas playbook. It doesn’t end well for Hamas. It won’t for Khalistanis wanting a theocratic State based on Disney fairy tails. How has it turned out for ISIS? Still no Islamic State Caliphate. The problem is, ‘their own’ people don’t want it.
Far better the Gandhian way – live together in peace, respect each other, as opposed to the Jinnah way of religion based theocracies. You tell me, how is Pakistan doing? They just become hotbeds of terrorism. India is right to shut down the nonsense about it being free speech. When in the UK persons in the name of free speech took action on the streets this summer, they swiftly got double digit jail terms. India is using the Western playbook. Khalistanis the Hamas playbook. Guess who wins?
