India and Canada have agreed to reinstate ambassadors to each other’s capitals, marking a significant step toward normalizing relations after months of diplomatic tensions. The decision came following a bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.
The diplomatic fallout was triggered in 2023 when Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, publicly accused India of involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, in British Columbia. India strongly denied the allegations, and in the aftermath, both countries expelled each other’s ambassadors, severely straining bilateral relations.
Carney, who assumed office in March, extended an invitation to PM Modi to attend the G7 summit in the Canadian Rockies. During their meeting, the two leaders agreed to appoint new high commissioners—diplomatic titles used within Commonwealth nations—to restore full diplomatic representation.
According to a statement from the Canadian Prime Minister’s office, the decision to reinstate ambassadors was made “with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries.”
Prime Minister Carney described it as a “great honour” to host Modi at the summit and emphasized his hope to collaborate with India on pressing global issues such as energy security, artificial intelligence, and countering transnational repression and terrorism.
PM Modi, in return, affirmed the shared democratic values of both nations. “The relationship between India and Canada is very important in many ways,” he said, while congratulating Carney on his recent electoral victory. “I am confident that together… India and Canada will work together to make progress in many areas.”
Context: A Rift Rooted in a High-Profile Assassination
The India-Canada relationship took a sharp downturn in 2023 after Trudeau accused Indian agents of orchestrating the killing of Nijjar, a vocal advocate for an independent Sikh homeland, Khalistan. Nijjar was gunned down in the parking lot of a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia.
India categorically rejected the allegations and urged Canada to take stronger measures against extremist Khalistani elements operating within its borders. The fallout disrupted consular services and hindered trade and cooperation, even as both countries maintained a $9 billion trade relationship in 2023 and shared deep cultural ties through the Indian diaspora—especially Canada’s sizable Sikh community, the largest outside India.
A Path Toward Renewal
The renewed commitment to diplomacy signals a mutual willingness to move beyond past grievances and engage constructively. As India and Canada prepare to name new envoys, the emphasis will likely shift to rebuilding trust and focusing on areas of mutual benefit—from trade and innovation to counterterrorism and democratic cooperation.
The coming months will reveal whether this reconciliation can withstand the weight of past allegations and pave the way for a stronger bilateral partnership.
