Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has stated that he must exercise caution in making further remarks regarding the killing of pro-Khalistani Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, given the ongoing judicial process in the case. His comments came when he was asked whether he had raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis on Tuesday.
Carney acknowledged that he and Prime Minister Modi discussed the importance of direct law enforcement cooperation and the need to address concerns related to transnational repression. “We have had a discussion, the Prime Minister and I, about the importance of law enforcement to law enforcement cooperation directly, the importance of addressing transnational repression, as I noted including when we met,” Carney said. He added, “Obviously, there is a judicial process that’s underway, and I need to be careful about further commentary.”
Relations between India and Canada have remained tense since September 2023, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023. India had designated Nijjar a terrorist in 2020 and forcefully rejected Trudeau’s accusations as “absurd” and “motivated.”
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In April 2024, Trudeau reaffirmed his stance during a testimony at a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s electoral processes, asserting that his administration defended the rights and freedoms of all Canadians. India, in response, accused Trudeau’s government of enabling pro-Khalistani elements to operate openly on Canadian soil.
Tensions further escalated in October 2024 when India withdrew its High Commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to Nijjar’s killing. In a reciprocal move, India expelled the same number of Canadian diplomats. Carney, a prominent economist and political newcomer, assumed office as Prime Minister in March 2025 following Trudeau’s exit from the post. India had expressed optimism about resetting ties under Carney’s leadership.
Following what was described as a “very positive and constructive meeting” between Modi and Carney during the G7 Summit, both countries have agreed to take initial steps toward normalising diplomatic relations. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India and Canada have committed to restoring High Commissioners to each other’s capitals at the earliest opportunity. This decision marks one of the first “calibrated steps” to stabilise what Misri described as a “very important relationship” between the two nations.
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