India, Canada to Appoint Liaison Officers Following NSA Ajit Doval’s Ottawa Visit

In a significant move to rebuild strained diplomatic ties, India and Canada have agreed to appoint dedicated security and law-enforcement liaison officers in each other’s countries. The decision follows high-level talks between India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie Drouin, during Doval’s two-day visit to Ottawa on February 6–7, 2026.

This visit is being viewed as a major “reset” of bilateral relations, which reached an all-time low in 2023 under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Key Outcomes of the NSA Dialogue

The meetings, which included talks with Canada’s Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, resulted in a shared workplan focused on operational security:

• Liaison Officers: Both nations will station dedicated officers to streamline communication between agencies like the NIA (India) and the RCMP (Canada).
• Organized Crime & Drugs: A primary focus is dismantling transnational criminal networks and stopping the illegal flow of drugs, specifically fentanyl precursors.
• Countering Extremism: Discussions reportedly moved beyond political rhetoric toward a concrete crackdown on violent extremist groups and cross-border gang activities.
• Cybersecurity & Immigration: The two sides committed to formalizing cooperation on cybersecurity policy and enhancing information exchange to prevent fraud and human trafficking.

The “Mark Carney” Shift

The diplomatic thaw follows the election of Mark Carney as Canada’s new Prime Minister. Under the new administration, both countries have pivoted toward “practical collaboration” to address mutual security threats while hedging against global trade volatility.

“The objective is to ensure the territory of each country is not misused by terrorist organizations or criminal gangs against the other,” noted India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa, Dinesh Patnaik.

Strategic Context: Resetting the Timeline