K N Pandita
knp627@gmail.com
For decades India – Canada relations continued to be friendly and normal. However, under the leadership of ex-Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, bilateral relations soured owing to the partisan policy of Trudeau who had come under the influence of Canada-based Sikh extremist groups. They had become actively involved in Canadian politics.
Trudeau Government accused India of contriving the murder of a Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijar whom India wanted for involvement in various crimes but had fled to Canada. India repudiated the charge and said that Trudeau government was not only sheltering the criminals among Khalistanis who flee India and seek asylum in Canada, but was also prompting the Khalistanis to carry out anti – India propaganda in Canada. As a result relations between the two countries fell to nadir and even diplomatic level of bilateral relations was badly affected.
In March last, Premier Carney paid his maiden visit to India where he held constructive talks with his Indian counterpart. The talks were broad based and comprehensive. It was hailed by both sides as resetting of bilateral relations that had suffered a setback under Canada’s former premier’s policies.
The Canadian Khalistanis were sidelined in the election in which the Liberals led by Carney emerged with landslide victory. This was the first shock to the anti-India Khalistani Diaspora in Canada. As premier Carney tightened his grip on the affairs of the state, the anti – Indian Khalistanis in Canada began to realise that their game of garnering support of the Canadian government to their nefarious designs had come to an end.
In March, premier Carney paid a two day visit to India during which he held crucial talks with his Indian counterpart. These talks ushered in a new phase in Indo-Canadian relations and dispelled the dark clouds of doubts and suspicions that had overcast the entire spectrum of relationship.
The highlights of the high level talks were as follows:
* PM Modi and PM Carney agreed to fast-track negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with the aim to conclude talks by the end of the year. They also set an ambitious target of boosting bilateral trade to around $50bn by 2030.
* In a major announcement, Canadian company Cameco signed a long-term deal to supply uranium to India. The leaders also outlined new frameworks for cooperation on critical minerals, clean energy and AI.
* With a large number of Indian students studying in Canada, education featured prominently in the talks. Both governments announced plans to expand academic partnerships ease exchanges for students and researchers and strengthen mutual recognition of qualifications.
* The two countries will also re-launch a structured defence dialogue and step up maritime and broader security cooperation, underlining a strategic convergence which, analysts point out, extends well beyond trade.
* The leaders described the talks as the beginning of a “new phase” in ties following a period of diplomatic strain, emphasizing shared interests in energy security, resilient supply chains and stability in an increasingly uncertain global order.
It appears that Canada under premier Carney has a better understanding of the necessity of improving Indo – Canadian relations in the context of unfolding of a new and unprecedented political scenario on the globe. Recently, on May 1, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) placed before the Canadian parliament a report in which it acknowledged that Khalistani extremism was a national security threat. It drew a distinction between lawful political advocacies for Khalistan as against violent extremism which had become the instrument of state policy under Justine Trudeau.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs told reporters at a weekly media briefing that CSIS report confirmed that Canada – based Khalistani extremist groups posed a national security threat not only to India but to Canada itself. This is precisely what the Indian EAM had been telling the ex-Premier of Canada. “Canada’s worst terrorist incident was caused by those spouting radical Khalistani positions from their shores,” said Christopher Blackburn, a London-based security analyst, referring to the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 also highlighted in the CSIS report.
The attack, carried out by Sikh extremists, killed 329 people including 268 Canadian citizens. Blackburn commented as this;”For a neutral observer, it’s been strange watching the Canadian reluctance to confront this. Khalistan is probably more of a Canadian national secularity problem than an Indian one.”
Moving away from the sordid story of strained relations in recent past, observers hint at further improvements to bilateral relations, particularly as Prime Minister Mark Carney has pursued a broader diplomatic and economic reset with India. Since early this year, Canadian premier has sought to boost trade and secure energy partnerships, including through a uranium supply deal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney finalized a landmark CAD 2.6 billion uranium supply agreement during their bilateral talks in New Delhi. The 10-year contract will provide India with 22 million pounds of uranium ore from 2027 to 2035 to fuel its civil nuclear energy program.
Key details of the agreement stipulate that the uranium will be sourced through Canadian supplier Cameco. PM Modi hailed the pact as a “landmark deal” and described it as a massive step in expanding long-term strategic energy partnerships to establish a clean and reliable power. Alongside the raw uranium supply, both leaders agreed to actively collaborate on cutting-edge nuclear technology, specifically focusing on the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactors.
A breakthrough in India’s power research has been hailed as a defining moment for the country’s energy programme and a step towards self-reliance. Earlier this month, Indian scientist revealed they had achieved criticality, a state of self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, at the Kalpakkam prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu state
Broader Diplomatic Reset
The uranium deal represents a major reset in India-Canada diplomatic and economic ties. In addition to the civil nuclear agreement, PM Modi and PM Carney announced:
Trade Goals: Both sides committed to finalizing the long-pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost bilateral trade toward a $50 billion target by 2030
Critical Minerals: India and Canada signed an MoU focused on critical minerals, which aims to build more resilient supply chains for clean technology and advanced manufacturing.
The broad -based and comprehensive bilateral agreement encompassing crucial areas of economy and security is essentially the outcome of patient, positive and futuristic diplomacy shown by both sides after true fashion of resolving issues through positive diplomacy. India and Canada, both are strong and viable democracies
There is a mention of India also in the report of the CSIS as a country allegedly engaged in foreign interference and espionage in Canada, alongside China, Russia. Iran and Pakistan – activities, described as largely centering on the intimidation and harassment of Diaspora members on Canadian soil. Canada has a large Diasporas of India, Pakistan and Iran. But the spokesman of the Indian MEA, Mr. Jaiswal said, “We categorically reject such baseless imputations.”
Some observers opine that while the report has not resolved the underlying disagreements between the two countries, “it creates a practical basis for diplomatic exchanges on a touchy subject”. “Given Canada’s large Sikh population, strong civil liberty protections and the domestic sensitiveness surrounding Diaspora politics, any rapprochement should be reviewed with caution,” says a Political Science professor of Haryana University.
In final analysis, the dark interregnum in Indo – Canadian relations is over and the path of cooperation in many critical areas has been opened. We must appreciate the sensible leadership of both countries strengthening the foundation of democracy in their respective countries, and opening vistas for progress in an environment of peace and cordiality. Indo-Canadian friendship and coordination is a vast field for the peoples and the governments of the two countries to interact.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
