(Image source from: Twitter.com/AnitaAnandMP)
A few days after her phone call with Dr. S Jaishankar, Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand expressed on Thursday that Ottawa is eager to mend its strained relationship with New Delhi, taking a cautious approach by moving forward "one step at a time," as stated in a report. Referring to the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023, which was openly attributed to India by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, leading to a significant downturn in India-Canada relations, Anand mentioned that while the inquiry into the incident is ongoing, the government led by Mark Carney is committed to re-establishing a collaboration with the Modi administration.
September 2023 marked a critical decline in relations between India and Canada when Trudeau accused India of being involved in the death of the Khalistani terrorist, who held Canadian citizenship. He asserted that there were "credible allegations" regarding Indian officials' participation in Nijjar's killing. India rejected these unfounded claims. This escalation in tensions prompted the expulsion of diplomats from both nations and halted trade discussions, among other actions. Nearly 20 months after this diplomatic crisis, the ambassadorial positions in both countries remain unfilled.
On Sunday, Anand had a conversation with her Indian counterpart, Jaishankar, focusing on the goal of enhancing Canada-India relations. When asked if she thought their dialogue would result in the appointment of new high commissioners for both countries, she reiterated that they are proceeding “one step at a time.” She stated, “As I mentioned, upholding the rule of law is paramount, and there is an ongoing investigation regarding the case you referred to,” alluding to Nijjar's murder, as reported by The Globe and Mail. “At the same time, we are eager to continue developing this partnership, and that sentiment is shared by our government – it’s not just about me. It’s part of our broader commitment to diversifying our international relationships,” she added, highlighting Canada's intention to reduce dependency on the United States, particularly given the pressure on Canadian sovereignty during Donald Trump's presidency.
Goldy Hyder, the president of the Business Council of Canada, indicated that India holds significant importance for Canada's economic goals. He mentioned plans to visit India in July to lay the groundwork for a larger business delegation, which might occur later this fall or early next year, according to The Globe and Mail. “An Indo-Canadian strategy can't exist without focusing on India, and eventually, a mature democracy must find ways to navigate challenges with another mature democracy,” he stated.
