September 21, 2025

In a spicy twist to India-Canada relations, both countries have decided to open a fresh new chapter! The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that India and Canada will work closely to tackle terrorism and transnational crime. Big talks took place on Thursday in New Delhi between India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Canada’s NSA Nathalie Drouin. These discussions focused on healing wounds caused by the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023—a tough time that strained their friendship badly. But now, the MEA says, “There is now clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership.” What a hopeful sign! This fresh start builds on the recent face-to-face meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, June. That encounter was called a key step to stabilise ties and paved the way for this week’s security talks. During the talks, the two NSAs discussed many hot topics like counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and fighting organised crime. They also checked out regional and global issues both countries care about. It’s teamwork on a grand scale! Relations between the two nations hit rock bottom last October when India pulled out its high commissioner and diplomats after Canada, under the former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, hinted that India might be linked to Nijjar’s death. Canada reacted by kicking out a similar number of Indian diplomats. Tensions were sky-high. However, the election of Mark Carney as Canada’s Prime Minister in April brought new hope. Both sides quickly sent new ambassadors to each other’s capitals earlier this month, laying solid groundwork for this fresh effort at friendship and cooperation. With these bold steps, India and Canada aim to turn their roller-coaster ride into a smooth journey together. The world is watching—and hoping! (With PTI inputs)

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Tags: India-canada relations, Terrorism, Transnational crime, Ajit doval, Nathalie drouin, Bilateral ties,