Several months after the relationship between India and Canada deteriorated over the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (February 16, 2024) met his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly when the two leaders discussed the present state of ‘bilateral ties’.
The two leaders exchanged views on the global situation.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
After the meeting, S Jaishankar posted on X: “Met my Canadian counterpart FM @melaniejoly on sidelines of #MSC2024.”
“Our conversation understandably focused on the present state of our bilateral ties. Was also useful to exchange views on the global situation,” he said.
Deteriorated India-Canada relationship
Diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa soured after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last year alleged that New Delhi could be behind Nijjar’s killing.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey British Columbia on June 18.
India dismissed the allegation, calling it “absurd” and “motivated.”
In 2020, India designated Nijjar as a terrorist.