India and Canada Restore Diplomatic Ties After Two-Year Freeze
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India and Canada have agreed to resume full diplomatic services and appoint new High Commissioners, ending a nearly two‑year freeze in relations. This breakthrough came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Both leaders emphasized rebuilding their bilateral relationship on the principles of mutual respect, territorial sovereignty, and the rule of law.
Relations had soured in 2023 after Canada accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, which New Delhi strongly denied. This led to mutual diplomatic expulsions, a freeze on trade talks, and heightened tensions.
The G7 meeting resulted in a mutual agreement to resume visas and consular services for citizens and businesses, and to restart senior-level discussions on trade, digital infrastructure, food security, and critical minerals. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the reinstatement of high commissioners as the first “calibrated step” toward stabilizing relations, with further diplomatic engagements to follow.
Analysts view this move as a pragmatic reset of ties between two important democracies with deep people-to-people links—especially given Canada’s sizable Indian diaspora and the significance of trade and global supply chains.
