Ottawa, Feb 26 (.) Canada has said it no longer believes India is linked to violent crimes on its soil, signalling a potential easing of tensions ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to New Delhi.
A senior Canadian official, speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday ahead of Carney’s trip, said the federal government is confident that such activities are no longer ongoing. The remarks, reported by the Toronto Star, mark a notable shift after months of strained diplomatic exchanges between the two countries.
“We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers, and I think we can say we are confident that activity is not continuing,” the unnamed senior official was quoted as saying.
The statement comes as Carney prepares for talks in India aimed at resetting bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in trade, energy, technology and defence.
Carney, who took office in April 2025, will depart Thursday for Mumbai, the first stop on a broader Indo-Pacific tour that also includes India’s capital New Delhi, Australia, and Japan. The visit aims to reset bilateral ties and expand cooperation in trade, energy, technology, defence, and artificial intelligence.
The move comes after a prolonged diplomatic rift between Ottawa and New Delhi that escalated following Canada’s 2023 allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist advocating for an independent Khalistan.
The dispute led to the reciprocal recall of high commissioners and diplomats in October 2024.
Since Carney’s election, both countries have reinstated their high commissioners, and officials said systematic engagement at senior levels has paved the way for dialogue.
Carney’s itinerary includes meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and business leaders to strengthen economic engagement and investment ties. India was Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2024, with two-way trade totaling $30.8 billion.
Both countries are negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement that could more than double trade to $70 billion by 2030.
The Canadian government report on terror financing and money laundering also highlighted that Khalistani extremist groups such as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation, while previously having extensive networks in Canada, now appear to operate in smaller pockets but continue to receive some financial support originating from the country.
Mumbai will be the first stop of Carney’s India visit, following which he will travel to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions are expected to focus on expanding economic engagement, deepening collaboration in Artificial Intelligence (AI), talent and cultural exchanges, and enhancing defence and strategic partnerships between the two countries.
The Canadian Prime Minister will also engage with business leaders to explore investment prospects and promote deeper collaboration between Canadian and Indian companies.
“In a more divided and uncertain world, Canada’s new government is focused on what we can control. We are building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy, diversifying our trade abroad, and attracting massive new international investment,” the Canadian PM said.
Several terrorist entities listed under the Criminal Code in Canada that fall under the Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) category, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Khalistani violent extremist groups Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation, have been observed by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to receive financial support originating from Canada,” the report said.
. . PRS