India and Canada vow to reset ties after years of diplomatic spats
India and Canada have agreed to reset ties after years of tensions, which culminated in the mutual expulsions of top diplomats in 2024.
New Delhi and Ottawa will designate new high commissioners to their respective missions. A high commissioner is the top diplomat, ranking as an ambassador, in a diplomatic mission of one British Commonwealth nation to another. The Commonwealth nations use the term 'high commission' instead of embassy in diplomatic dealings.
The breakthrough between the nations took place during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. "Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the importance of Canada-India ties, based upon mutual respect, the rule of law, and a commitment to the principle of sovereignty and territorial integrity," Carney's office said in astatement.
"The leaders agreed to designate new High Commissioners, with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries," the office added.
During the talks, Modi and Carney discussed trade ties between the two countries, including cooperation in areas such as economic growth, supply chain development, and energy transition. The deterioration of ties between the countries accelerated after the G20 summit in India in 2023.
On the sidelines of the global gathering in New Delhi, Modi met with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and brought up the "continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada." Ties between the countries reached a low in October 2024 when Canadian officials accused Indian diplomats of targeting Sikh activists in Canada, leading to mutual expulsions of diplomats.
Some members of Canada's Sikh community demand the establishment of Khalistan, an independent ethno-religious nation that would be carved out of the Indian state of Punjab and surrounding areas. This Khalistan movement in Canada has been central to the rising tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, especially followingTrudeau's allegationsthat India was involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a key figure in the movement.
New Delhi views Khalistan activists as a national threat and has banned their organizations. Pro-Khalistan separatists periodically organize protests, chant anti-India slogans, and target diplomatic missions and Hindu temples, with violent attacks taking place in Canada. India has also been accused of interfering in Canadian elections, which New Delhi has denied.
(RT.com)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Reconsider travel to Iran: Indian embassy sounds alarm amid escalating conflict
The Embassy of India in Tehran has issued a fresh advisory urging Indian nationals to reconsider non-essential travel to a statement released on Tuesday, the embassy cited "security-related developments over the past several weeks" and advised citizens to "carefully consider the evolving situation before undertaking non-essential travel to Iran."The advisory comes in the wake of growing uncertainty in the Middle East, where diplomatic flashpoints and military escalations have created concerns over civilian Indian nationals currently in Iran have also been urged to keep abreast of real-time updates. "They are advised to continue to monitor the latest regional developments and follow updated advisories issued by the Indian authorities," the embassy said. "Indian nationals already in Iran, and interested in leaving, may avail the commercial flight and ferry options which are available right now," the statement ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICTThe advisory comes amid conflict in the region that escalated after Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion' on June 13. Israel targeted Iranian military and nuclear sites, prompting Iran to respond with missile and drone attacks on Israeli United States, firmly backing Israel, struck key Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. Iran's military then retaliated with strikes against Israeli-occupied areas and a US airbase in 12 days of aggression, the conflict paused on June 24 when US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire. Washington and western nations have expressed deep concerns over Iran's uranium enrichment program, fearing it could be used to develop nuclear weapons. However, Tehran has been denying these allegations, insisting its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes.- EndsWith inputs from ANI
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Himanta accuses TMC of shielding Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators
1 2 Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday accused Trinamool of portraying his govt's firm stance against illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims as anti-Bengali. He claimed TMC 's alleged attempt was nothing but a desperate ploy to shield Muslim infiltrators from the neighbouring country. In a post on his X handle, Sarma said, "Assam has been waging a relentless war against illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims for several decades. The recent attempt by the @AITCofficial to distort my media remarks and portray our stand as anti-Bengali is nothing but a desperate ploy to shield Muslim infiltrators from Bangladesh — whose very presence threatens to alter the demographic fabric of our nation." "Let it be made absolutely clear: in Assam, every Indian citizen — including Bengali-speaking people — fully understands our position and supports our uncompromising stand against illegal Muslim immigration from Bangladesh," he added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata TMC slammed Sarma for his remark that "writing Bengali as mother tongue in the Census documents will quantify the number of foreigners in Assam". In a post on X, the party said that Bengali was the seventh-most spoken language in the world and added, "… under BJP' rule, Bengali-speaking Indians are subjected to racial profiling, targeted harassment and systematic persecution." The party further said Sarma disgraced the CM's office by branding Bengalis as "illegal Bangladeshis". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "He must apologise immediately." In response to Sarma, TMC spokesperson, Debangshu Bhattacharya posted on X saying, " Read between the lines, people. This is @himantabiswa's last-ditch attempt to veil his XENOPHOBIA and LINGUISTIC CHAUVINISM behind communal smokescreens. You claim your Govt only targets "illegal Bangladeshi Muslims". But in the final NRC list, out of the 19.6 lakh people excluded, 12 lakh were Bengali Hindus. Was their faith the problem too? Or was it their language? You say your crusade isn't against Bengalis. Then how do you explain the fact that all but four of the 30 people who died in Assam's detention centres were Bengali-speaking?Your track record shows only one unifying marker of persecution: Bengali. This isn't about illegal immigration. This is about your PATHOLOGICAL HATRED for a language, a people, and a culture." Meanwhile, Assam BJP claimed over 10 districts in the state had become Muslim-majority and the changing demography was a major cause for concern. Districts such as Dhubri have more than 90% population belonging to a particular community, the party said. "It is not only a demographic change but also a serious threat to indigenous people of the state," a party source claimed.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
India Advises Citizens To Avoid Non-Essential Travel To Iran
New Delhi: The Indian Embassy in Iran issued a travel advisory on Wednesday, urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. The advisory comes amid rising security concerns in the region over the past several weeks. "In view of the security-related developments over the past several weeks, Indian nationals are advised to carefully consider the evolving situation before undertaking non-essential travel to Iran," the Indian Embassy said on X. Further embassy also "advised to continue to monitor the latest regional developments and follow updated advisories issued by the Indian authorities." For Indian nationals currently in Iran who wish to return, the embassy has noted that options are available. "Indian nationals already in Iran, and interested in leaving, may avail the commercial flight and ferry options which are available right now," it said. — India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) July 15, 2025 The advisory follows a sharp spike in regional hostilities that began with Israel's launch of 'Operation Rising Lion' on June 13, bombing Iranian military and nuclear facilities. In response, Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets. The United States, in support strong for Israel, retaliated with attacks on key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. The Iranian Armed Forces launched retaliatory strikes, targeting key positions across the Israeli-occupied territories and on the US military airbase in Qatar. The 12-day war came to an end on June 24 when Israel declared a unilateral halt to its aggression, announced on its behalf by US President Donald Trump. Washington maintains that Iran's uranium enrichment programme could lead to developing nuclear bombs, while Tehran has consistently denied the claim, insisting that its nuclear programme is meant for civilian purposes. In July 2015, the Iran nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and several world powers, including the United States. The agreement capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord. Since then, Iran has started exceeding agreed-upon limits to its stockpile of low-enriched uranium in 2019, and began enriching uranium to higher concentrations up to 60 per cent purity, which is very close to the weapons-grade level. Earlier this month, Iranian President Pezeshkian signed into law a bill suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The state broadcaster of Iran reported that Pezeshkian ratified the bill after Parliament approved the legislation.
