Varanasi, June 19
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Canada and meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Defence Expert Sanjeev Srivastava on Thursday said that India-Canada relations are now getting back on track.
Srivastava said that by reinstating their respective High Commissioners, both India and Canada have taken constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship.
"In a positive development, India and Canada have decided to reinstate their High Commissioners. Tensions between the two countries had significantly escalated after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made baseless allegations against India regarding the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The previous Trudeau government had also failed to take action against Khalistani terrorists, which had caused deep resentment in India," the Defence expert told ANI.
"However, now that a new Prime Minister has been elected in Canada, India was invited to the G7 summit, and the discussions between the two Prime Ministers were positive. PM Modi was welcomed with great applause in Canada. This is a constructive turn of events, and India-Canada relations are now getting back on track," Sanjeev Srivastava said.
PM Modi visited Canada to attend the 51st G7 Summit at the invitation of his counterpart, Mark Carney.
Earlier, PM Modi met Canadian PM Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Notably, this was the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Canada's recent general elections.
During the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties and agreed to take constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, with the early return of High Commissioners to each other's capitals, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said in a statement on Wednesday.
As per the MEA, the meeting between PM Modi and PM Carney provided an opportunity for both sides to hold frank and forward-looking discussions on the state of India-Canada relations and the way ahead.
The leaders reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties, based on shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law and commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. They underlined the need to pursue a constructive and balanced partnership grounded in mutual respect for concerns and sensitivities, strong people-to-people ties, and growing economic complementarities.
In a significant development, it was announced by the MEA in its statement that India and Canada "agreed to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability in the relationship, beginning with the early return of High Commissioners to each other's capitals."
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is welcome news! Canada is home to many Indian students and professionals. The Khalistani issue had created unnecessary tensions. Hope the new Canadian government understands India's security concerns better. PM Modi's diplomacy wins again 🇮🇳
Good development but we should remain cautious. Canada has been soft on anti-India elements for too long. Actions speak louder than words - let's see if they actually curb Khalistani activities on their soil. Our High Commission staff's safety must be priority #1.
The way PM Modi was welcomed in Canada shows the respect India commands globally. Our diaspora is our strength - over 1.6 million Indians in Canada! This relationship is important for education, trade and technology partnerships. Jai Hind!
While I appreciate the positive steps, I hope our government doesn't compromise on national security just for diplomatic niceties. The Khalistan issue isn't just about politics - it's about protecting India's sovereignty. Canada must show concrete action.
As someone with family in Canada, I'm relieved relations are improving. The visa delays and tensions were affecting ordinary people the most. Hope this leads to smoother people-to-people connections. Maybe direct flights between more Indian cities and Canada next?
The economic potential is huge - Canada has resources India needs, and India has skills Canada needs. But diplomacy can't just be about business. Canada must respect that we won't tolerate threats to our unity. Balanced approach is key ðŸ¤
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