India, Canada to Forge Shared Work Plan to Bolster Security Cooperation
New Delhi: India and Canada agreed to create a “joint working plan” to guide cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues, with a broader plan to have practical cooperation to address mutual concerns such as transnational criminal networks. The decision was taken at a meeting between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in Ottawa on Saturday.
The move is seen as part of the two sides’ efforts to normalize relations, which were severely strained following a diplomatic dispute over the killing of a Khalistani separatist in 2023.
NSA Doval’s visit to Ottawa comes as the two sides are preparing for Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s possible trip to India early next month.
Sharing details of the Doval-Drouin meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Sunday that both sides acknowledged the progress made on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens.
“A joint work plan was agreed upon that will guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and enable practical cooperation on relevant priorities,” the statement said.
“During the meeting, it was agreed that each country will create security and law enforcement liaison officers and their relevant institutions will establish working relations,” the MEA said in a statement. he said.
He said this “important step” would help facilitate bilateral communication and enable timely information sharing on issues of “mutual concern” such as “the illicit flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors, and transnational organized crime networks.”
“They also committed to continuing discussions on cooperation on fraud and immigration enforcement, consistent with domestic laws and international obligations, in addition to formalizing cooperation on cybersecurity policy and information sharing on cybersecurity issues,” he said.
NSA Doval also met with Canadian Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree on Friday.
India-Canada relations hit rock bottom following then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of India’s potential involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India rejected Trudeau’s accusation as “absurd”.
In October 2024, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa tried to link them to the Nijjar case. India also expelled the same number of Canadian diplomats.
However, Liberal Party leader Carney’s victory in the parliamentary elections in April last year helped begin the process of reviving relations.
Both sides have already appointed their high commissioners to each other’s capitals.
