India-Canada restore diplomatic ties after months of tension over Nijjar murder

In a significant step toward mending strained diplomatic relations, India and Canada have agreed to reinstate their ambassadors, months after a public fallout over the killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist.

The breakthrough was achieved during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada’s Kananaskis.

According to a statement from Prime Minister Carney’s office, the decision was made “with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries.”

The move signals a reset in diplomatic engagement that had been frozen since last year.

Tensions escalated sharply in 2023 after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar—a Canadian citizen and advocate for a separate Sikh state—who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia. India strongly denied the allegations and called on Canada to curb extremist elements within its borders.

The dispute led to both countries expelling each other's senior diplomats.

Now, with Carney having taken office in March, there appears to be a shift in tone. He extended an invitation to PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit in the Canadian Rockies, signaling his intent to stabilise bilateral relations.

Carney described Modi’s participation as a “great honour” and expressed eagerness to collaborate on a range of global issues. “We look to tackle together, from energy security... the future of artificial intelligence, to the fight that we have against transnational repression and against terrorism,” Carney stated.

Prime Minister Modi echoed a message of cooperation, stressing the importance of democratic values and shared goals. “The relationship between India and Canada is very important in many ways,” he said, offering congratulations to Carney on leading his Liberal Party to victory. “I am confident that together...India and Canada will work together to make progress in many areas.”

India and Canada, which traded goods worth $9 billion in 2023, also share deep cultural ties. Canada is home to the world’s largest Sikh population outside India, and the diplomatic freeze had disrupted consular services and affected people-to-people exchanges.

The recent agreement to name new high commissioners marks a hopeful turning point in bilateral ties.