India and Canada take steps to mend relations following tensions during the Trudeau administration.
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The conversation between Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand indicates a willingness from both sides to improve the relationship that had been strained over the past few years. The main source of tension was the Khalistan movement, which is seeking an independent Sikh state.
The movement has found support in Canada, particularly within its significant Sikh community. This has led to accusations from Canada that India has been involved in the targeting and killing of Khalistani activists in Canadian soil, most notably Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. India has vehemently denied these allegations.
The call between the two diplomats suggests a potential thaw in relations, with both sides expressing a desire to strengthen economic cooperation and advance shared priorities. Additionally, there is talk of restoring High Commissioners to their respective countries by June this year, which would be a significant step in normalizing diplomatic ties.
This rapprochement is likely driven by the desire of both nations to move past the contentious issue and focus on mutually beneficial areas such as trade and investment, as well as geopolitical concerns where they may have converging interests. It remains to be seen, however, whether this outreach will lead to substantial changes in policy or a complete resolution of the issues that led to the tension in the first place.