Washington [US]: Former Pentagon official and prominent American security analyst Michael Rubin has strongly endorsed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to accept an invitation to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada (June 15-17), while sharply criticising former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his approach towards the Khalistan issue.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Rubin, currently a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said that Modi’s willingness to visit Canada demonstrates that “India has nothing to hide” in its dealings with the West, signalling openness and confidence in India’s global stance.
Rubin drew a contrast between Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney and his predecessor Trudeau, suggesting that Carney “understands the importance of India” and is committed to restoring diplomatic maturity to the relationship that had deteriorated under Trudeau’s leadership.
“Canadian PM Mark Carney originally is a banker. He understands the importance of India. Justin Trudeau was a politician who peddled in image and imagination. It makes sense that Carney wants to restore maturity to the relationship,” Rubin remarked.
According to Rubin, Modi’s participation in the G7 indicates India’s readiness for a “serious and responsible dialogue,” similar to what it has maintained with the United States on sensitive matters such as counter-terrorism and security.
He criticised Trudeau for what he described as “shooting from the hip” without evidence when making accusations against India regarding alleged extrajudicial actions related to Khalistani activists.
“What Prime Minister Modi is showing is that India has nothing to hide. If you want serious law enforcement dialogue, it must be two-way. It’s time to address issues like illegal immigration, terror financing in Canada, radical Sikh mafias, and how the Khalistan movement is tied to organised crime and terrorism,” Rubin asserted.
He also warned that Canada’s past tolerance of Khalistani extremist elements could end up harming its own interests:
“When you give safe haven to any terror group, your own interests are eventually subverted,” Rubin cautioned, blaming both Justin Trudeau and former PM Pierre Trudeau for failing to clamp down on such elements despite evidence of their involvement in violent acts.
Rubin concluded that the Khalistan movement, often backed by organised crime networks, remains a destabilising force and a risk to Canada’s global standing and domestic security.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Canada for the G7 Summit, at the invitation of Mark Carney, is expected to provide an opportunity to reset bilateral ties that were strained during Trudeau’s tenure, especially after the diplomatic row over the killing of a Khalistani figure in Canada last year.