India-Canada Relations: Positive Turn with Counterterrorism

Marking a decisive step toward mending frayed ties, India and Canada have agreed to adopt a collaborative approach in building a new chapter in bilateral relations, with a particular focus on counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and combating transnational crime.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin held wide-ranging discussions in New Delhi on September 18. The talks were aimed at repairing diplomatic relations that had been severely strained since the 2023 row over the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

“The two sides agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations,” the MEA stated, underscoring the significance of the dialogue.

India-Canada Relations: Rebuilding Trust After a Diplomatic Rift

Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa hit rock bottom in 2023 after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a potential Indian link to Nijjar’s killing. The fallout led to a series of expulsions of diplomats on both sides, freezing much of the cooperation that had once been a hallmark of India-Canada relations.

However, the election of Liberal Party leader Mark Carney as Canada’s Prime Minister in April 2025 opened the door for diplomatic repair. The thaw began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in June, where both leaders agreed on “constructive steps” to restore stability in ties.

Saturday’s announcement followed up on that momentum, signaling that both governments are willing to move beyond past tensions.

Security Cooperation at the Forefront

According to the MEA, the NSAs held “productive” discussions that covered key areas such as:

• Counterterrorism strategies to tackle extremist threats.

• Combating transnational organized crime through enhanced intelligence exchange.

• Strengthening security cooperation by reinforcing existing frameworks of engagement.

The ministry also noted that Doval and Drouin exchanged views on global and regional developments, identifying priority areas for future collaboration.

“The two sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership,” the MEA emphasized.

India-Canada Relations: Signs of a New Chapter

The talks come just three weeks after India and Canada restored full diplomatic representation by appointing envoys to each other’s capitals—a symbolic yet substantial move that highlights the commitment to normalization.

Analysts suggest that focusing on common threats such as terrorism and organized crime provides a pragmatic foundation for moving forward, while also creating space for broader cooperation in trade, technology, and education in the future.

The renewed engagement is expected to ease anxieties within the Indian diaspora in Canada, particularly in the wake of the diplomatic turbulence of recent years.

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