Relations between India and Canada, which plunged to historic lows last year, may be entering a tentative phase of repair. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is expected in New Delhi next month for talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in what would be the first bilateral visit by a foreign minister from either side since the diplomatic freeze began. According to a Times of India report, political and economic cooperation will dominate the agenda of the meeting.
The announcement comes more than a year after then prime minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, an allegation New Delhi rejected as “baseless” and politically motivated. High-level dialogue between the two governments stalled in the aftermath.
Arrest signals changing climate
Another development signalling a change in Ottawa’s posture came last week when Canadian authorities arrested Inderjeet Singh Gosal, a key Khalistan Referendum coordinator and close associate of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Gosal was detained on multiple firearms-related charges in Ottawa, a move that Indian officials privately see as a sharp departure from Canada’s earlier permissive stance towards separatist groups operating under its cover.
The detention came just days after a high-level meeting on September 19 between India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie G. Drouin, where both countries agreed to step up cooperation on counter-terrorism and transnational crime. Indian agencies reportedly shared detailed information with Ottawa on Gosal, including financial records and evidence linking him directly to Pannun, the general counsel of SFJ, a US-based group pushing for a “Khalistan referendum” to create an independent Sikh state in Punjab. SFJ is banned in India as a terrorist organization, and Pannun is designated a terrorist by New Delhi.
Diplomatic contacts resume
Signs of movement began in late May, when Jaishankar and Anand held their first direct conversation since February 2024. Anand later described the exchange as “productive,” highlighting the need to “strengthen Canada–India ties, deepen our economic cooperation, and advance shared priorities.” Jaishankar, in his own post, noted that they had “discussed the prospects of India-Canada ties.”
A key turning point preceded this outreach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in June, an encounter that paved the way for the return of high commissioners to Ottawa and New Delhi earlier this month. Dinesh Patnaik has resumed his duties as India’s envoy to Canada, while Christopher Cooter is back in New Delhi for Canada. Both governments had expelled diplomats during last year’s standoff, disrupting not only political exchanges but also consular services vital for students, businesses and citizens.
Anand’s anticipated visit follows a series of recent contacts designed to restore normal diplomatic capacity. In September, Canadian National Security and Intelligence Adviser Nathalie Drouin and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison travelled to India to meet senior officials including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Indian readouts of those meetings spoke of “clear momentum” for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation.
Shared values and new opportunities
This shift has also been reflected in formal consultations. Talks last week between India’s Ministry of External Affairs and Global Affairs Canada reaffirmed the relationship’s foundations. Both governments stressed “shared democratic values, respect for rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity” as the anchors for renewed engagement. Officials committed to reopen discussions across trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear cooperation, security, law enforcement and critical minerals.
Economic factors are helping to drive the outreach. With global trade unsettled by shifting US tariff policies, India and Canada are exploring complementarities between Canada’s rich critical mineral reserves and India’s expanding technology and manufacturing sectors. Restoring normal staffing at embassies is another priority. Last year’s expulsions left both missions short-handed, delaying visas and hampering citizen services. Filling these posts is expected to ease bottlenecks and reassure the large community of students and businesspeople who maintain people-to-people links even in times of political strain.
Anand has publicly argued for a “step-by-step” approach to deepening ties, which corresponds to India’s insistence on a relationship built on mutual respect for core concerns and sensitivities. Her planned trip to New Delhi will test whether that method can deliver progress.
From tensions to tentative trust, the two governments are trying to move beyond the acrimony of 2023. The Modi–Carney meeting, the reinstatement of high commissioners, the arrest of Gosal and the resumption of working-level visits have created space for a broader reset. If Anand’s visit goes ahead as planned, it could mark more than a symbolic gesture and lay the groundwork for cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, digital innovation and academic partnerships.
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