OPINION | Recalibrating India-Canada Bilateral Relations
India and Canada are once again making efforts to repair their troubled bilateral relationship. However, this task may be more difficult than before due to a series of unprecedented incidents that have escalated tensions between the two countries. The Canadian government publicly accused the Indian government of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani separatist. This accusation sparked a strong backlash from New Delhi, leading to criticism of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his handling of the situation. In response to the elevated tensions, India recalled Sanjay Verma, its former High Commissioner to Canada, further straining diplomatic relations.
Despite these challenges, recent developments suggest a willingness to improve ties. The shift in approach can be attributed to the leadership of the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose government has signalled an interest in resetting bilateral relations with India. A significant moment in this diplomatic thaw occurred when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Canada in June. This meeting laid the groundwork for more constructive dialogue between the two nations.
Following this meeting, both countries took steps to reinstate diplomatic representation by appointing High Commissioners to each other's capitals. Additionally, the foreign ministers of India and Canada met earlier this week during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, marking another effort to engage in diplomatic discussions.
Anita Anand, who has made history as Canada’s first Indian-origin woman Foreign Minister, is expected to visit India later this month, which could be a pivotal moment in the reconciliation process. However, significant questions remain about the future of this relationship. Specifically, are both nations prepared for the possibility of another crisis emerging? Will they choose to handle any tensions that arise through quiet diplomacy, or may they revert to confrontational behaviour that characterised previous disputes? As both countries navigate this complex landscape, the outcome will depend on their willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and foster mutual understanding.
India recently announced that Dinesh Patnaik will be its new High Commissioner to Canada. In response, the US-based Khalistani organisation ‘Sikhs For Justice’ (SFJ), led by the notorious Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, threatened to "siege" the Indian consulate in Vancouver. They also targeted the new envoy, labeling him as the “new face of India’s Hindutva terror in Canada.” SFJ is connected to ‘Team Shahid Nijjar,’ which operates from Canada. Despite these alarming incidents, Ottawa has chosen to remain silent, likely due to the presence of significant voter support amongst the Sikh community there.
Interestingly, this situation arose concurrently with a meeting between the National Security Advisors (NSAs) of both countries in New Delhi, which laid the groundwork for future actions. While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attempted to downplay the significance of the meeting by stating that it was "part of regular bilateral security consultations," it was one of the most crucial discussions between the two nations after they accused each other of conducting covert operations within their territories.
Christopher Cooter has been named by Canada as its next envoy to New Delhi. Cooter is no stranger to India and has served here as a junior diplomat from 1998 to 2000. Therefore, hopes are high in New Delhi that he will be in a better position than his immediate predecessors to handle the sensitivities on both sides.
To improve relations fundamentally, both nations need to establish a strong back channel for communication. The underlying reason for the persistent suspicion in bilateral ties is the extensive espionage networks each country operates within the other’s territory.
Historical events illustrate the depth of issues between India and Canada. The killing of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, occurred in 1984 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi ordered 'Operation Bluestar,' which ultimately led to her own assassination. Additionally, the 1985 Kanishka bombing claimed 329 lives, highlighting the serious tensions between the two nations. The AI-182 Kanishka bombing in 1985 was planned and executed in Canada.
Recently, the Indian government informed the upper house of Parliament that a Canadian government commission established in 2006 regarding the Kanishka bombing admitted that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had “ineffective” surveillance. Furthermore, it noted that “despite being aware of the threat of sabotage, Transport Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Protective Policing exhibited a lack of flexibility by continuing to rely on anti-hijacking security measures, which did not adequately address the threat of bombing.”
Former Intelligence Bureau officer M.K. Dhar, in his book 'Open Secrets,' detailed a series of undercover operations aimed at apprehending pro-Khalistan operatives in Canada. He described how he developed a comprehensive network for intelligence gathering at the Indian High Commission in Ottawa.
Therefore, unless the governments of both countries confront these issues, the bilateral relationship between India and Canada will continue to face significant challenges.
Nayanima Basu is a senior independent journalist.
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