Canada Signals Reset with India, Citing No Ongoing Violence Links

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Ottawa: Canada has said it no longer believes that the government of India is currently connected to violent crimes or security threats on Canadian soil, marking a notable change in its public posture ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Mark Carney. A senior Canadian official told reporters that authorities are now confident such activities are not continuing, following months of strained diplomatic relations between Canada and New Delhi.

The reassessment comes as Carney prepares to travel to Mumbai and New Delhi, where he is due to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Canadian officials, discussions between the two governments on foreign interference and national security have remained active and detailed, with Ottawa saying it has strengthened safeguards to protect its democratic institutions.

Officials indicated that the decision to proceed with the visit reflects confidence that there is no active interference campaign underway. One senior official said that if Canada believed India was currently attempting to influence its democratic processes, the prime minister would not be making the trip. The government has also argued that direct engagement at the highest political level is necessary to manage sensitive security concerns more effectively.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after former prime minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused India in 2023 of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia. Ottawa later announced that four Indian nationals had been charged in connection with the case and remain in custody awaiting trial. New Delhi has consistently dismissed any role in the murder and has rejected allegations of transnational repression.

Some members of Canada’s Sikh community have strongly criticised the government’s new assessment. Balpreet Singh, a representative of the World Sikh Organisation, said claims that foreign intimidation had ceased were unfounded. Meanwhile, Vancouver-based activist Moninder Singh told local media he had recently received a police warning about a credible threat to his life, raising fresh concerns within the community.

Carney’s outreach to India is part of a broader effort to rebuild political and commercial ties at a time when Canada is seeking to diversify trade beyond the United States. The two leaders last met on the margins of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, and Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand later travelled to India for talks. Carney’s office has said the upcoming visit will prioritise investment and trade cooperation, with the government aiming to expand non-US exports significantly over the next decade.