India and Canada vow to reset ties after years of diplomatic spats
India and Canada have agreed to reset ties after years of tensions, which culminated in the mutual expulsions of top diplomats in 2024.
New Delhi and Ottawa will designate new high commissioners to their respective missions. A high commissioner is the top diplomat, ranking as an ambassador, in a diplomatic mission of one British Commonwealth nation to another. The Commonwealth nations use the term 'high commission' instead of embassy in diplomatic dealings.
The breakthrough between the nations took place during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. 'Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the importance of Canada-India ties, based upon mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity,' Carney's office said in a statement.
'The leaders agreed to designate new High Commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries,' the office added.
During the talks, Modi and Carney discussed trade ties between the two countries, including cooperation in areas such as economic growth, supply chain development, and energy transition. The deterioration of ties between the countries accelerated after the G20 summit in India in 2023.
Sharing my remarks during meeting with PM @MarkJCarney of Canada. https://t.co/rPd42cqsbv
On the sidelines of the global gathering in New Delhi, Modi met with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and brought up the 'continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada.' Ties between the countries reached a low in October 2024 when Canadian officials accused Indian diplomats of targeting Sikh activists in Canada, leading to mutual expulsions of diplomats.
Some members of Canada's Sikh community demand the establishment of Khalistan, an independent ethno-religious nation that would be carved out of the Indian state of Punjab and surrounding areas. This Khalistan movement in Canada has been central to the rising tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, especially following Trudeau's allegations that India was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a key figure in the movement.
New Delhi views Khalistan activists as a national threat and has banned their organizations. Pro-Khalistan separatists periodically organize protests, chant anti-India slogans, and target diplomatic missions and Hindu temples, with violent attacks taking place in Canada. India has also been accused of interfering in Canadian elections, which New Delhi has denied.
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