Canadian Foreign Minister Plans India Visit to Normalize Ties After Diplomatic Strain

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is expected to visit India next month to help normalize relations between the two countries after a period of tension caused by accusations from Canadian officials regarding India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This visit will mark the first high-level bilateral engagement since 2023 and follows a series of diplomatic efforts including meetings between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Mark Carney, the return of high commissioners, and visits by Canadian security officials to India. Canada has taken steps to address India's concerns, including the recent arrest of Inderjit Singh Gosal, a Khalistani terrorist, signaling a shift in Canada's approach to separatist groups. Both nations have reaffirmed the importance of their relationship based on shared democratic values and have agreed to resume dialogue on key sectors such as trade, defense, energy, and security. Anand's visit is part of a broader effort, including upcoming visits to China, to improve Canada's strained relations with major Asian economies and to address issues like transnational repression and trade disputes. These developments indicate a cautious but positive trajectory toward rebuilding trust and cooperation between Canada and India.