Hardeep Singh Nijjar Murder: Canada Received Intelligence From Five Eyes Partners, Says US Envoy

The bombshell allegation made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Indian agents were behind the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil was based on "shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners", a top US official has admitted.

Who are five eyes?

'Five Eyes' network is an intelligence alliance consisting of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It is both surveillance-based and signals intelligence (SIGINT).

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US Ambassador to Canada David Cohen told CTV News Channel that there was "shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners" of a "potential" link between the government of India and the murder of a Nijjar, an India-born Canadian citizen.

What is the shared intelligence?

"There was shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners that helped lead Canada to make the statements that the Prime Minister made," Cohen was quoted as saying on CTV's 'Question Period with Vassy Kapelos', which is to air on Sunday.

Cohen reportedly would not comment on whether the intelligence informing the Canadian government's investigation was human and surveillance-based or whether it included intelligence signals of Indian diplomats.

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But the US envoy to Canada did say, "There was shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners that helped lead Canada to making the statements that the Prime Minister made."

This is the first admission by any US government official about the sharing of intelligence by Five Eyes partners with Canada.

Earlier, reports by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and The Associated Press had indicated that the intelligence came from the Five Eyes.

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How Trudeau shocked the world

On September 18, Trudeau shocked the world when he told the Canadian Parliament that there were credible allegations of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in Surrey on June 18.

Trudeau, who has since doubled down on his allegations, has not yet publicly provided any evidence to back it up.

It has also since emerged that Trudeau before he went public with the allegations, had taken it up with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit and top US officials.

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Where does US stand

Publically, the US has maintained what seems to be a balanced position on the matter.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is "deeply concerned" about the allegations raised by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau against India, and Washington was "closely coordinating" with Ottawa on the issue and wants to see "accountability" in the case.

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Blinken said the US has engaged directly with the Indian government on the issue, and the most productive thing would be the completion of this investigation.

"We have been consulting throughout very closely with our Canadian colleagues ¨C and not just consulting, coordinating with them ¨C on this issue. And from our perspective, it is critical that the Canadian investigation proceed, and it would be important that India work with the Canadians on this investigation. We want to see accountability, and it's important that the investigation run its course and lead to that result," Blinken said.

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