External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Canada's newly appointed Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Sunday, marking their first official interaction. The discussion primarily centered around enhancing economic cooperation and pursuing common goals between the two nations.
Anand took on her new role earlier this month following a cabinet reshuffle under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who recently led the Liberal Party to a notable win in Canada’s parliamentary elections.
Carney's ascension to leadership has been widely seen as a possible game-changer for repairing the battered India-Canada relations, which had sourly deteriorated in the period under Justin Trudeau.
"Talked of possibilities of India-Canada relations. Wished her a very fruitful term," Jaishankar posted on social media after the conversation.
Anand seconded this, calling the conversation constructive.
Thanks Minister @DrSJaishankar for the useful conversation today on further bolstering Canada–India relations, enhancing our economic partnership, and promoting common priorities. I look forward to carrying on our collaboration," she tweeted on X.
The diplomatic feud started in September 2023, following the charge by Trudeau that Indian agents were behind the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil—an accusation India condemned outright as "absurd.
Tensions were heightened further in the course of that year when Canada implicated a number of Indian diplomats, including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, in the episode. In response, India withdrew Verma and five other ambassadors and directed an equal number of Canadian diplomats to leave New Delhi.
There has been a tentative effort in recent months to roll back ties, with security officials from the two countries reinstating dialogue and discussing the appointment of new high commissioners.
Trudeau's exit has been seen by New Delhi as an opportunity to reboot the bilateral relationship.
India had been accusing the Trudeau government of allowing pro-Khalistani activity to flourish in Canada.
In the wake of the political change in Ottawa, New Delhi signaled hope for re-establishing relationships based on "mutual trust and sensitivity."
"The decline in India-Canada relations was due to the license that was accorded to the extremist and secessionist forces in that nation," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said in March.
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