Latest news with #IndiaCanadaRelations
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Will India and Canada move beyond ‘past rancour' and normalise ties quickly?
The move by India and Canada to reinstate high commissioners in each other's capitals marks an important step towards mending their frayed relationship after the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia. Following a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of this week's Group of Seven summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, both countries issued separate statements to pledge their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. Analysts said the diplomatic move, which could bring about an easing of travel and visa restrictions and pave the way for deeper engagement in other areas, reflected a shared desire by Modi and Carney to move past the acrimony of the past two years. Modi described his talks with Carney as 'excellent', saying in a post on social media platform X that both leaders 'look forward to working closely to add momentum to the India–Canada friendship'. He identified trade, energy, space and critical minerals as areas of potential cooperation. A statement from Carney's office said the two leaders had agreed on the need to strengthen relations based on mutual respect, the rule of law and recognition of each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The positive tone arising from the meeting between Modi and Carney was a far cry from the nadir in the two countries' relationship in 2023 over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and the leader of a Sikh separatist movement in India. An accusation by former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau that Indian agents were allegedly involved in the killing prompted a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats from both sides.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
B.C. Sikhs hold protest marking two years since community leader's assassination
A few dozen protesters gathered outside the Indian consulate in downtown Vancouver to mark two years since the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., allegedly at the behest of the Indian government. It comes as Canada and India normalize relations. (June 18, 2025).
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Newsroom Ready: 'Long: B.C. Sikhs hold protest marking two years since community leader's assassination'
A few dozen protesters gathered outside the Indian consulate in downtown Vancouver to mark two years since the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C., allegedly at the behest of the Indian government. It comes as Canada and India normalize relations. (June 18, 2025).
National Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
India still poses foreign interference threat to Canada despite renewed diplomacy: CSIS
OTTAWA — Indian officials and their proxy agents in Canada engage in a range of activities that seek to influence Canadian communities and politicians, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said Wednesday in its annual report. Article content When such activities are deceptive, clandestine or threatening, they are deemed to be foreign interference, the report says. Article content Article content Article content 'These activities attempt to steer Canada's positions into alignment with India's interests on key issues, particularly with respect to how the Indian government perceives Canada-based supporters of an independent homeland that they call Khalistan,' the report says. Article content Article content The report adds that the re-election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will mean India's political course will continue to follow the Hindu-nationalist policy agenda implemented since Modi was first elected in 2014. Article content 'Modi and his core ministers and advisers are keen to build India's global influence and counter any activity they consider as 'anti-India,' at home or abroad, in the name of domestic stability and prosperity,' the CSIS report says. Article content 'With that considered, there is a long history of India arguing that Canada is a haven for 'anti-India' activity, with the separatist Khalistan movement being a particular focus of India's concern, which is rooted in the aftermath of the 1985 Air India bombing and subsequent terrorist activity in India.' Article content Article content The report, which was tabled in the House of Commons on June 13, comes as Canada renews diplomatic ties with India following Prime Minister Mark Carney's meeting with Modi at the G7 in Kananaskis, Alta., on Tuesday. The two leaders agreed to reappoint their respective high commissioners. Article content Article content In October 2024, Canada expelled consular officials and six Indian diplomats — including the high commissioner — when they refused to co-operate with a police probe into allegations that agents of the Indian government ran a targeted campaign of criminal violence and harassment against Canadian citizens.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
India and Canada Move to Mend Rift Over Sikh Activist's Killing
India and Canada signaled a significant diplomatic thaw nearly two years after the killing of a prominent Canadian Sikh cleric set off a deep rift between the two countries that culminated in each expelling the other's senior diplomats. The two countries said in separate statements on Tuesday that they would appoint new high commissioners, or ambassadors, restart trade talks and restore visa processing and other services to citizens. The announcements came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and the Canadian leader, Mark Carney, met during the Group of 7 nations summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, on Tuesday. India is not a member of the bloc but Mr. Modi was invited to attend by Mr. Carney. 'The 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 statement from Mr. Carney's office. Indian officials said in a statement that the two countries are likely to restart 'senior ministerial as well as working-level engagements across various domains to rebuild trust and bring momentum to the relationship.' However, neither side referred to the reason their relations had deteriorated in the past two years. In September 2023, the Canadian government, led then by Justin Trudeau, accused India of orchestrating the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an activist who supported carving out a Sikh homeland, Khalistan, from India. Mr. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was fatally shot in British Columbia that June. The Indian government, which had branded Mr. Nijjar a terrorist, rejected the allegations and accused Canada of harboring extremists who were plotting violence on Indian soil in the name of Khalistan. It also alleged that Mr. Trudeau's accusations were politically motivated and he was sympathetic to Sikh separatists for political gain. Canada is home to the largest number of Sikhs outside India and many support his Liberal Party. Trade talks and business ties between the two countries deteriorated, as did services such as issuing travel visas. By last October, the rift had deepened. Canada kicked out India's high commissioner and five other diplomats, calling them 'persons of interest' in the killing of Mr. Nijjar. India retaliated by expelling six Canadian diplomats. But in recent months, Mr. Trudeau's resignation and the election of Mr. Carney — a prominent economist and former governor of the Bank of England — presented an opportunity for the two countries to reset their relationship. Matina Stevis-Gridneff contributed reporting.
