New Delhi: The Canadian federal government has officially stepped back from its long-held claim that Indian agents were linked to violent crimes on Canadian soil. The reversal signals a major thaw in one of the world’s most fractured diplomatic relationships.
This strategic shift in public positioning comes at a pivotal moment, arriving just days before Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to depart for a high-stakes diplomatic mission to India.
A new confidence in diplomacy
The change in stance was revealed during a media briefing by a senior government official, who indicated that the clouds of suspicion hanging over New Delhi are beginning to dissipate. According to reports from the Toronto Star, Canadian authorities now believe that any alleged activities of foreign interference or violence tied to India have ceased.
The official highlighted that the two nations are currently immersed in “robust diplomatic exchanges.” Central to this progress has been a direct and consistent line of communication between the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of both Ottawa and New Delhi. This high-level dialogue has reportedly provided Canada with the confidence to declare that the activities in question are no longer a present threat.
Moving beyond the 2023 rift
This assessment marks a dramatic departure from the “credible allegations” first brought forward in 2023 by then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. At that time, Trudeau’s public statement linking Indian government agents to the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia ignited a firestorm.
The fallout was immediate and severe. Both nations engaged in tit-for-tat expulsions of high-ranking diplomats. The strategic and economic partnerships were effectively placed on ice.
However, New Delhi consistently and vehemently rejected the charges, dismissing them as “baseless” and politically motivated.
The Carney mission
The current softening of tone from Ottawa is being viewed as the “ground-clearing” necessary for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s upcoming visit to Mumbai and New Delhi.
While the Canadian government maintains that it continues to treat all security threats with the utmost gravity, the emphasis has clearly shifted toward reconciliation. Carney’s trip is designed to serve as a “reset button,” focusing on reopening trade and investment doors that were shuttered during the 2023 dispute.
The visit also focuses on deepening ties in a volatile global landscape where India remains a critical Indo-Pacific partner.