India - Canada: Opportunity to Reset Ties
STORIES, ANALYSES, EXPERT VIEWS
The government is considering restoring its High Commissioner to Canada as Justin Trudeau quits. Bilateral ties that have been virtually frozen since 2003 over the Nijjar case. Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s (CSIS) chief Daniel Rogers is also set to visit India to attend a meeting of intelligence chiefs hosted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS).
The meeting, which is held each year on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue (March 17-19 this year) since 2022, will be the first such meeting since a heated, extended exchange over the case between Indian and Canadian national security teams headed by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart in Singapore last October.
Earlier, Trudeau’s successor Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former Central Bank Governor, had said said there were “opportunities to rebuild relationships with India” as Canada diversifies trade ties in the wake of tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs. “There needs to be a shared sense of values around that commercial relationship [with India],” he said.
“Given the existential crisis Canada faces from Trump, India has to be an important piece of Canada’s diversification strategy. The lowest hanging fruit is the speedy return of High Commissioners to both capitals,” said former High Commissioner to Canada Vikas Swarup.
Rebuilding ties
The bigger point is that with Carney’s appointment as PM, “a positive resetting of ties is now on the cards…..” according to The Asian Age.
In the view of KS Tomar (strategic affairs and political analyst), “one of Carney’s most urgent foreign policy tasks will be repairing Canada’s severely damaged relationship with India. Under Trudeau, ties with New Delhi deteriorated due to allegations of Indian intelligence agents’ involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia in 2023. The diplomatic fallout led to mutual expulsions of diplomats and heightened tensions between both nations. Initiating direct talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rebuild trust while avoiding public accusations that could further antagonise relations will be crucial. Addressing India’s concerns about pro-Khalistan extremists operating from Canadian soil and strengthening counterterrorism collaboration with India will be among the necessary steps. Reviving discussions on the stalled Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and encouraging Canadian investments in India’s technology and infrastructure sectors while attracting Indian investments into Canada’s energy and AI industries will provide a constructive path forward. Easing tensions surrounding visa restrictions for Indian students and professionals and enhancing academic and cultural exchanges will reinforce strong diaspora-driven relations."
Managing the Khalistani elements: One of the most contentious issues Carney will face is “managing the presence of Khalistani elements in Canada that has been a major source of friction with India. The Trudeau government’s perceived soft stance on Khalistani extremists led to a diplomatic crisis, especially after the Nijjar controversy. If Carney wants to restore relations with India while maintaining domestic political stability, he must walk a fine line between safeguarding national security and respecting democratic freedom. Moving away from Trudeau’s overly accommodative approach towards pro-Khalistan groups, Carney, who does not have a political history of appeasing any particular voter bloc, may choose a more pragmatic and security-driven approach rather than an electorally motivated one. Unlike Trudeau, he is unlikely to publicly align with Khalistani sympathisers and may prioritise Canada’s international credibility over domestic political gains.”
Carney thus, states Tomar “faces a delicate balancing act — restoring trust with India while managing domestic political sensitivities. His lack of political baggage allows him to take a fresh approach, while his global reputation indicates that India can take his diplomatic overtures seriously. Leveraging economic incentives to reset relations with India could provide him with a major diplomatic victory early in his tenure. However, he will have to contend with political pressure from pro-Khalistan groups in Canada, accusations of suppressing free speech and opposition from left-leaning Liberals who supported Trudeau’s stance. Ultimately, if he implements a firm but balanced policy — cracking down on extremists while protecting legitimate Sikh voices —he can repair Indo-Canadian ties without triggering domestic instability….”
