Ahead of Mark Carney’s visit, Ottawa says India no longer linked to violent crimes in Canada
The statement came during a briefing with journalists and senior government officials ahead of Carney’s trip, according to Canada’s English-language Toronto Star newspaper.
“We have a very strong diplomatic relationship, including with national security advisors, and I think we can say that we are confident that this activity is not continuing,” one of the senior officials, who asked not to be named, said Wednesday. he said.
The statement suggests Canadian officials do not currently see ongoing foreign interference or violent activity linked to India, according to the report.
The remarks come as Carney prepares for a nine-day trip that also includes Mumbai and New Delhi, where he plans to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit is planned as part of Ottawa’s efforts to pursue a more “pragmatic” foreign policy and deepen economic ties with India, the world’s most populous country.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply following the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurudwara in British Columbia in June 2023. Months later, then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was “credible” evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in Nijjar’s death, but New Delhi vehemently denied the claim.
The dispute led to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries and a prolonged diplomatic standoff. In 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alleged that Indian government agents were linked to violent crimes in Canada, including death threats and alleged involvement in murders. But officials briefing reporters this week suggested that previous concerns about active foreign intervention or pressure linked to India no longer persist.
“I really don’t think we would have gone on this trip if we thought this type of activity was going on,” a senior government official said.
The new assessment sparked criticism from some Sikh activists. Moninder Singh, a religious leader in British Columbia, told the Star that Vancouver police recently warned him of an imminent threat to his and his family’s lives. This was the fourth such warning Nijjar had received since his killing, the Toronto Star reported.
Protests were also held on Parliament Hill by members of the Sikhs for Justice group with which Nijjar is affiliated. Demonstrators condemned the government’s renewed engagement with India and reiterated their support for the proposed Khalistan as an independent Sikh state.
Former national security adviser Jody Thomas said Canada’s intelligence was sufficient to ensure accountability but the legal process differed from that in the United States, where allegations can be made public before trial. He argued that security concerns remain a “live problem” that requires resolution.
The Carney government has emphasized that strengthening trade and people-to-people ties with India can progress alongside cooperation with law enforcement. According to the Toronto Star, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu stated that both countries recently agreed to appoint liaison officers to improve cooperation in criminal investigations.
The diplomatic reset comes amid a broader geopolitical realignment in which Ottawa is trying to diversify trade relations and reduce economic dependence on the United States.
Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa Dinesh Patnaik told the Star that disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than damaging the overall relationship, and suggested Canada overreacted when the allegations first emerged.
Speaking earlier on Tuesday ahead of Carney’s visit to India and other Indo-Pacific allies, Patnaik said the recent talks between the National Security Advisers of the two countries during NSA Ajit Doval’s visit to Ottawa were a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral security ties.
“This issue was discussed recently when NSA Ajit Doval visited Canada and had very extensive discussions with his counterpart NSA Nathalie Drouin and the Minister of Public Security. And I think what they have put together is a great action plan to move forward security cooperation between both parties to address all the issues – be it fentanyl trafficking, transnational organized crime, violent extremism, illegal immigration fraud, cybercrime or cybersecurity,” the Indian Higher Institution said. The commissioner said.
“We are looking at collaboration across all sectors. Both sides understand that if we want to make Canada safe and India safe, we need to discuss and talk about all issues, have liaisons with each other and collaborate in a timely and online manner.”
While tensions remain among sections of the Sikh community in Canada, officials in Ottawa argue that increased security cooperation and sustained diplomatic engagement are creating conditions for a cautious reset in bilateral relations.
The visit is expected to test whether the two countries can move beyond a worrying chapter in their relations while balancing domestic political sensitivities and ongoing investigations.
