In a significant development for bilateral diplomacy, India and Canada have decided to reinstate high commissioners in each other’s capitals, marking an important step towards normalising relations after nearly two years of frosty ties. This shift comes on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney met and pledged to work together to strengthen cooperation based on mutual respect and sovereignty.

For two democracies with long-standing economic, educational, and people-to-people ties, the fallout over the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan separatist leader, had pushed relations to an alarming low. The controversy, stoked by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public accusation that Indian agents were involved in the killing, triggered a diplomatic tit-for-tat, with both nations expelling each other’s diplomats. The episode poisoned a relationship that was already fraught with tensions over Sikh extremism and Ottawa’s perceived indifference to New Delhi’s concerns.

The arrival of Mark Carney, an experienced figure with a globalist outlook, appears to have created the space for a reset. His meeting with PM Modi, described by the Indian leader as “excellent," was accompanied by statements from both sides that highlighted a commitment to the rule of law, respect for sovereignty, and mutual cooperation in areas like trade, energy, critical minerals, and space. Carney’s invitation to Modi for the G7 summit, extended over a phone call, helped dispel speculation about Canada’s posture and conveyed seriousness about rebuilding trust.

Despite the diplomatic warmth, one cannot ignore the elephant in the room – the Khalistan movement. Although the movement has virtually no traction in........

© News18