KANANASKIS, June 18 — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday said he must exercise caution while commenting on the killing of pro-Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, citing the ongoing judicial process in Canada. His remarks came as he met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, marking a significant moment in the mending of strained bilateral ties.
“We have had a discussion, the prime minister and I, about the importance of having the law enforcement to law enforcement… cooperation directly, the importance of addressing transnational repression,” Carney told reporters. “And obviously there is a judicial process that’s underway and I need to be careful about further commentary.”
The diplomatic freeze between the two countries began in September 2023 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar’s killing outside a gurdwara in Surrey. India, which designated Nijjar a terrorist in 2020, dismissed the accusations as “absurd” and “politically motivated.”
The allegations sparked a diplomatic standoff. In October 2024, India expelled five Canadian diplomats and recalled its own high commissioner after Ottawa linked Indian officials to the case. Canada reciprocated by expelling an equal number of Indian diplomats.
Trudeau’s government had insisted on defending “the rights and freedoms of all Canadians,” a stance he reaffirmed during testimony in April 2024 at a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian politics. India, meanwhile, criticized Ottawa for giving safe space to pro-Khalistani elements operating on Canadian soil.
Carney, an economist and first-time politician, took office as prime minister in March this year after Trudeau stepped down. His assumption of power was seen by New Delhi as a fresh opportunity to reset relations.
Following Tuesday’s “positive and constructive” bilateral conversation, both nations agreed to take “calibrated steps” to restore stability. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that India and Canada will reinstate High Commissioners in each other’s capitals “at an early date.”
Misri described the move as a vital first step toward repairing what he termed a “very important relationship.”
While the Nijjar case remains under judicial scrutiny in Canada, the agreement to restore full diplomatic representation signals a willingness on both sides to move past recent tensions and rebuild trust through diplomatic engagement.
