India, Canada move to reset ties; agree to revive dialogue mechanisms

India and Canada on Friday took a concrete step towards restoring normalcy in their strained relations, with senior officials from both sides meeting in New Delhi and agreeing to revive dialogue mechanisms across a wide range of sectors.

The consultations were led by Secretary (East) P Kumaran from the Ministry of External Affairs and Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison from Global Affairs Canada. Deputy Foreign Minister Morrison also held a separate meeting with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks followed the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in June, where both leaders had agreed to put ties back on a constructive track.

Diplomatic sources said the discussions in New Delhi provided an opportunity to review the state of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues.

Relations between the two countries had sharply deteriorated in 2023 after then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, a charge New Delhi dismissed as “absurd and motivated.”

The episode led to tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats, a freeze in trade negotiations, suspension of visa services and the recall of High Commissioners from both capitals. The strain also created unease among the large Indian diaspora in Canada, including students and workers.

The change of leadership in Ottawa earlier this year created an opening for a reset. Carney’s June meeting with Modi was the first significant effort to put relations back on track, paving the way for Friday’s consultations.

"Both sides reaffirmed the importance of ties anchored in shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law and commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity," MEA officials said.

In line with the understanding reached at the leadership level, the two sides have agreed to initiate steps to "reactivate dialogue" across diverse domains, including trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear, security and law enforcement, critical minerals, space, science and technology, and agriculture.

According to officials, New Delhi and Ottawa have also agreed to address capacity-related issues at their missions and consulates to better support growing people-to-people ties and economic opportunities.

The progress achieved since the June summit, including the return of High Commissioners to New Delhi and Ottawa, was noted as a positive signal.