New 'Duty to Warn' Letter Deepens Doubts on Canada-India Rapprochement Amid Threats

Canada's efforts to mend strained ties with India face fresh turbulence after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued another 'duty to warn' letter to Sikh separatist leader Inderjeet Singh Gosal on August 18, 2026, alerting him to credible, serious, and imminent threats to his life. Gosal, who took over the Khalistan referendum efforts in Canada after Hardeep Singh Nijjar assassination, reportedly received this latest warning on August 14, reaffirming the persistent dangers faced by activists despite diplomatic overtures between Ottawa and New Delhi. The issuance of this 'duty to warn' letter to Gosal directly challenges Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney push for rapprochement with India, which began with his invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit in June 2025 and a visit to India in February 2026. While Carney's government has claimed that threats from the Indian government in Canada have been neutralized, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) continues to identify India as a significant source of foreign interference and transnational repression (TNR). This contradictory messaging, coupled with conflicting reports regarding India's alleged involvement in Hardeep Singh Nijjar June 2023 assassination, underscores the deep-seated mistrust that continues to plague bilateral relations following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusations against the Indian government. As Gosal defiantly pledges to continue his activism, having previously rejected witness protection offers, the incident signals that the core issues of security and sovereignty remain unresolved between the two nations. The focus now turns to how Prime Minister Carney's administration will reconcile its diplomatic ambitions with ongoing intelligence assessments and the very real threats faced by individuals on Canadian soil. This situation will likely keep the Khalistan movement and allegations of foreign interference at the forefront of Canada-India relations, demanding careful navigation from both sides.