24th September, 2016. Speaking in Kerala, as reported by Dawn newspaper, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared, “We will isolate you. I will work for that.” And, “We will intensify it (our efforts) and force you to be alone all over the world.”

The speech preceded India’s boycott of the SAARC summit in Islamabad, seen as a move to diplomatically isolate Pakistan. Then, he went on to speak against Pakistan at the BRICS summit held in Goa, India, on 16th October, 2016.

These are just two examples from scores of others where India has tried its best to isolate Pakistan, frequently citing allegations of terrorism. It has developed a policy to leave no stone unturned to quarantine Pakistan from the international community over the last decade. It conveniently forgot to highlight its own role in being the epicentre of international terrorism during this time.

Despite overwhelming proof, it has not accepted its role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, who was a Canadian citizen and a Sikh separatist leader. Resultantly, in late 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, blaming them for involvement in a wider state-sponsored campaign of extortion, intimidation and clandestine operations targeting the Sikh diaspora in Canada.

Similarly, in 2023, an assassination plot by Indian agencies was foiled in New York against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual USA–Canada citizen and Sikh activist. Vikash Yadav, the accused, was identified by the FBI as a former officer of RAW. He evaded arrest and is wanted by the FBI.

These developments, while contested by India, have nevertheless initiated an........

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