New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): India and Canada are taking concrete steps to mend their strained relationship, with both nations actively working towards reinstating their High Commissioners, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Addressing a press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had a “constructive discussion” on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada last month. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to revitalizing bilateral ties and laid the groundwork for restoring full diplomatic engagement.
“We had the meeting at the Prime Minister level in Kananaskis, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the importance of India-Canada ties and to rebuilding these ties. We are working; both sides are now working towards it. We are also working to get High Commissioners deployed in the two capitals,” Jaiswal said, adding that the MEA is optimistic about progress in the relationship.
Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa hit a low point in 2023 after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia — an allegation that India vehemently rejected as “absurd and politically motivated.”
The fallout led to a tit-for-tat diplomatic standoff. India withdrew six of its diplomats, including its High Commissioner, after Canadian authorities labeled them as “persons of interest” in the investigation. Canada, in turn, had six of its diplomats, including its High Commissioner, expelled from India.
However, with Mark Carney assuming office as Canada’s new Prime Minister following Trudeau’s resignation, there appears to be a thaw in relations. The MEA noted that the recent summit provided an opportunity for both sides to acknowledge the shared democratic values and the need to uphold sovereignty, the rule of law, and territorial integrity.
“Both sides agreed to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, beginning with the early return of high commissioners to each other’s capitals,” the spokesperson said.
In addition to restoring diplomatic presence, the two nations also agreed to resume high-level dialogues and working group discussions across multiple sectors. These include cooperation in trade and investment, clean energy, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, food security, critical minerals, and greater people-to-people engagement.
The MEA reaffirmed that efforts are being made at multiple levels to normalize relations and reestablish mutual trust, signaling a renewed focus on collaboration and long-term partnership.
