Does last-minute G7 invite to Modi signal a thaw in India-Canada ties?
Bilateral ties soured after Justin Trudeau alleged India's involvement in the assassination of a Khalistani leader. However, his successor, Mark Carney, seems to be prioritising international diplomacy over internal political concerns
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
India to seek extradition of alleged terrorists from Canada- media
New Delhi believes secessionists are using the country as a base India is expected to urge Canada to expedite the extradition of 26 alleged terrorists, who government officials in New Delhi have accused of using the country as their base, according to the Deccan Herald newspaper. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the G7 summit in Alberta from June 15 to 17, and is expected to address the matter in a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Indian media outlets added. Modi is also likely to emphasize the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the countries. New Delhi officials are hopeful that Ottawa will expedite the pending extradition requests and arrest alleged gangsters and terrorists who have escaped to Canada from India, a source told the Deccan Herald. A statement from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office revealed that the two leaders have agreed to "maintain ongoing law enforcement discussions and address mutual security concerns." Certain members of Canada's Sikh community have been demanding the establishment of Khalistan, an independent ethnoreligious nation carved out of the Indian state of Punjab and surrounding areas. This movement has been central to rising tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, especially following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that India was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a key figure in the movement. India views Khalistan activists as a national threat and has banned their organizations. It has designated the leaders of the movement, including US-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of Sikhs for Justice, as terrorists. US prosecutors alleged last year that Indian officials were involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun, who is based in New York and holds both US and Canadian citizenship. Tensions escalatedin October 2024 when Canadian officials accused Indian diplomats of targeting Sikh activists in Canada, leading to mutual expulsions of diplomats. Trudeau at the time condemned India's actions as a "fundamental error," while New Delhi denied the allegations, claiming they were part of a broader strategy to undermine India for political gain. Pro-Khalistan separatists have organized protests, chanted anti-India slogans, and targeted diplomatic missions and Hindu temples, with violent attacks in Canada, the US, UK and other countries which have significant Sikh populations. (
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Cyprus May Host Modi For Refuelling Stop En Route To G7 Summit In Canada; Bilateral Talks Possible
Last Updated: While multiple possibilities are being explored, Cyprus has emerged as a likely candidate for a stopover before Canada As preparations are underway for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada for the G7 Summit on June 16–17, officials are in the final stages of confirming international refueling stopovers, which may also double up as venues for bilateral engagements. Among the options being actively considered is Cyprus, sources told CNN-News18. While multiple possibilities are being explored, Cyprus has emerged as a likely candidate for a stopover before Canada, given the recent uptick in diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. However, officials on both sides remain tight-lipped about the ongoing developments. Strategic Timing And Diplomatic Optics A Cyprus halt, if finalised, would not merely serve logistical needs — it may carry significant diplomatic symbolism, especially against the backdrop of PM Modi's earlier meeting with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides on the sidelines of the UNGA last year. During that interaction, PM Modi reaffirmed India's support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Cyprus. Foreign policy watchers see this as a potential opportunity to reinforce ties, particularly as Cyprus has consistently supported India, including in the aftermath of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, which it raised during an EU meeting. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held a conversation with his Cypriot counterpart following the incident. The last high-level exchange between the two countries occurred in 2017, when the then President of Cyprus visited India. Cyprus has previously sought India's assistance in resolving its four-decade-long territorial dispute, making any high-level engagement diplomatically notable. PM Modi's visit to Canada, his first in nearly a decade, comes at a crucial juncture. Diplomatic ties between India and Canada have been frosty in recent months, particularly under the previous Canadian administration, with public spats, withdrawn envoys, and unresolved tensions over Khalistani extremism. The invitation from newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has therefore surprised many, including Khalistani groups who have resumed protests, and the Congress party, which had questioned the likelihood of Modi's attendance. With Modi returning to Canadian soil after last visiting in 2015, the trip signals a possible reset in Indo-Canadian relations under a new political regime in Ottawa—one that seems eager to re-engage with India.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Does last-minute G7 invite to Modi signal a thaw in India-Canada ties?
Bilateral ties soured after Justin Trudeau alleged India's involvement in the assassination of a Khalistani leader. However, his successor, Mark Carney, seems to be prioritising international diplomacy over internal political concerns
