Indian and Canadian officials met on Friday when they reviewed the state of bilateral ties between the two countries, marking an improvement in the strained relationship over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The consultation was led by officials of the Ministry of External Affairs of India and Global Affairs Canada, who held pre-Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi.
The Indian delegation for the pre-FOC consultations was led by Secretary (East) P. Kumaran, while the Canadian side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison.
The pre-consultations follow the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on 17 June 2025.
What did the officials discuss?
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that discussions provided an opportunity to review the state of India–Canada bilateral relations and exchange views on other international and regional issues.
“Both sides reaffirmed the importance of India–Canada ties, anchored in shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also welcomed the progress achieved since June 2025, including the return of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals,” the statement said.
In line with the understanding reached between the two Prime Ministers to restore stability in the relationship and pursue a constructive and balanced partnership, the two sides agreed to initiate necessary steps to reactivate bilateral dialogue mechanisms across diverse domains, including trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear, security and law enforcement, critical minerals, space, science and technology, and agriculture, MEA said.
To support the strong people-to-people linkages and expanding economic opportunities between India and Canada, both sides also decided to constructively address capacity-related issues at their respective Missions and Consulates.
Nijjar killing and fallout
The India-Canada relationship hit a low in 2023 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged Indian involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been declared a terrorist by India.
Nijjar was killed in British Columbia, prompting a diplomatic standoff.
India denied the allegation and accused Canada of allowing Sikh extremist groups to operate freely on its soil.
The CSIS report follows disclosures made in October by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which stated that over a dozen threats had been shared with Sikh activists in Canada.
These individuals had been vocal in advocating for a separate Khalistan state in India.
Despite the claim, both India and China have ignored the report. Neither the Indian High Commission nor the Chinese Embassy in Canada have responded to the latest intelligence report.
