Kananaskis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit at Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada, and the two agreed to resume full diplomatic services.
Both leaders agreed to designate new high commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries, according to a press release from the Prime Minister of Canada.
This announces the end of a freeze in ties between the two nations Canada blamed Indian agents of killing NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in that country in 2023.
Both leaders 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.
They discussed strong and historic ties between their peoples, partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, and significant commercial links between Canada and India — including partnerships in economic growth, supply chains, and the energy transformation, the release said.
Carney also raised priorities on the G7 agenda, including transnational crime and repression, security, and the rules-based order.
Discussions on deepening engagement in technology, digital transition, food security, and critical minerals were held despite the strained relations between the two countries.
India has repeatedly voiced concern over anti-India activities in Canada, particularly by Pakistan-backed pro-Khalistani elements. Matters came to a head when Carney’s predecessor Justin Trudeau claimed that his government had ‘credible evidence’ of India’s involvement in the killing of Nijjar. India had strongly refuted the charges, calling them ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’. It also accused Canada of giving space to extremists and anti-India elements.
In the aftermath, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared “persons of interest” by Canadian authorities investigating Nijjar’s killing. Ties between the two countries were badly hit with Canada allegedly violating various international norms such as the Vienna Convention, and subjecting Indian diplomats to surveillance – against which the Ministry of External Affairs had lodged a formal protest.
