India and Canada Begin Diplomatic Reconciliation Following Sikh Activist's Death

The diplomatic relationship between India and Canada is gradually mending as both nations commit to appointing new ambassadors and resuming essential services, following the two-year fallout from the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India and Canada have taken significant steps towards mending their diplomatic rift, nearly two years after the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh cleric, which led to a series of escalating tensions, including mutual expulsions of senior diplomats. This recent thaw in relations was confirmed through separate statements released on Tuesday, signaling an intention to restore dialogue and trade collaborations.

During a meeting at the Group of 7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to appoint new high commissioners—essentially ambassadors—and rejuvenate services like visa processing for citizens in both countries. This summit represented a pivotal moment for both leaders, as India is not formally a member of the G7, but Prime Minister Modi was specially invited by Carney.

According to reports, both leaders agreed that appointing new high commissioners would pave the way for returning to regular diplomatic functionalities. Statements from both governments indicated a willingness to resume senior ministerial meetings and engagements aimed at rebuilding trust within a historically complex relationship.

However, despite these announcements, there was a conspicuous absence of acknowledgment of the past grievances that fuelled the deterioration of ties. The root of this conflict was a high-profile accusation made by Canada—in September 2023—asserting that India was involved in the targeted killing of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan. India vehemently denied these claims, labeling Nijjar as a terrorist and arguing that Canada was providing safe haven for individuals plotting violence against India.

The tensions peaked last October when Canada expelled India's high commissioner and five other diplomats, citing their roles as “persons of interest” in Nijjar's killing, prompting a reciprocal expulsion from India involving Canadian diplomats.

In a noteworthy shift of political winds, the recent resignation of Justin Trudeau and the subsequent election of Mark Carney—an economist with a background at the Bank of England—created an environment where the two nations could reevaluate their dialogue strategies. With a significant Sikh population in Canada, who largely supported Trudeau's Liberal Party, the political landscape in Canada may alter the dynamics of this relationship moving forward.

In conclusion, the developments indicate that both governments are eager to move past a challenging chapter in their diplomatic history, and a return to active engagement could enhance bi-national relations going forward.