India and Canada Agree to Restore High Commissioners as Modi-Carney Meeting Eases Diplomatic Strain
In a breakthrough move to mend frayed diplomatic ties, India and Canada have agreed to restore high commissioners to each other’s capitals—New Delhi and Ottawa—marking the beginning of a potential thaw in bilateral relations.
The diplomatic reset was initiated after a “positive and constructive meeting” between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. This is the first high-level engagement between the two countries since relations soured last year over allegations surrounding the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Carney carefully avoided making strong comments on Nijjar’s murder, in stark contrast to his predecessor Justin Trudeau. “We discussed the importance of having the law enforcement dialogue—not just dialogue, but cooperation directly—the importance of addressing transnational repression… There is a judicial process underway, and I need to be careful about further commentary,” Carney said.
Tensions escalated in 2023 when Canada, under Trudeau, accused India of being involved in Nijjar’s killing, a claim that India has consistently denied, citing lack of credible evidence and calling the allegations “politically motivated.” In response, New Delhi withdrew its senior diplomats, resulting in a diplomatic deadlock that affected multiple areas of cooperation.
Following the Modi-Carney meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the progress in a video statement, noting that the dialogue was centered around the shared values of democracy, rule of law, and the deep people-to-people ties between the two nations.
“The importance of the India-Canada relationship, which is based on shared values, democracy and the rule of law, people-to-people contact, and many other commonalities, was underscored,” Misri said, adding that further diplomatic measures will be taken to fully normalize relations.
The resumption of high commissioners is seen as a key step towards rebuilding trust and cooperation between the two nations, especially in areas like trade, education, security, and immigration.
With Carney signaling a more pragmatic and less confrontational approach, analysts believe this development may open a new chapter in India-Canada relations, setting the stage for broader engagement going forward.