New Delhi/Ottawa: Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), planned the assassination of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada with the aim of creating tension between India and Canada, India Today reported citing sources, Ind.

The sources also disclosed that the ISI had enlisted criminals to carry out the killing and had been exerting pressure on Nijjar to provide full support to gangsters who had recently arrived in Canada. Despite this, Nijjar was inclined towards the former Khalistani leaders, the report said.

A diplomatic dispute arose when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in June.

India promptly rejected the claim, deeming it baseless and motivated. In response, India temporarily halted visa issuance to Canadian citizens and requested Ottawa to scale down its diplomatic presence.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urged member states not to let political convenience dictate responses to terrorism and violence.

He emphasised the importance of respecting territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs, underscoring that select nations no longer dictate the global agenda.