A Reset In Ties For India-Canada: New Chapter Entails Cooperation On Counter-Terrorism, Intel Sharing

India and Canada have agreed to work together to open a new chapter in their strained relationship, with a strong focus on counter-terrorism and transnational crime. The understanding was reached during wide-ranging discussions on Thursday (September 18, 2025) between NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin.

Ties between India and Canada came under pressure around 2 years ago after the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The meeting of National Security Advisor Doval and Drouin was also an opportunity to follow-up on the discussions between the PM Narendra Modi and his counterpart Mark Carney on the side-lines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.

How are the two sides addressing the Nijjar fallout?

The talks aimed at mending ties that had been severely damaged following the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Nijjar. Relations nosedived last October after Canada, under then-prime minister Justin Trudeau, suggested possible Indian involvement in the killing, an allegation firmly rejected by New Delhi.

What added fuel to the fire was former Canadian PM Trudeau’s remarks in Parliament last year that he has “credible allegations” of India’s hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Nijjar. A Designated a terrorist by India in 2020, Nijjar was shot dead by two gunmen outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver in June 2023.

Diplomatic expulsions on both sides plunged relations to their lowest point in decades. Canada and India, otherwise, share over 75 years of diplomatic relations and deep people-to-people ties. Bilateral relations were formally designated as a “Strategic Partnership” in 2018.

What role did recent leadership changes in Canada play?

The election of Prime Minister Carney in April 2025 opened space for political recalibration. His meeting with PM Modi at the G7 summit in Kananaskis in June 2025 set the tone for a cautious re-engagement, described as an “important step” towards stabilizing ties. This week’s security dialogue built on that momentum.

According to the MEA, the NSAs explored areas of practical cooperation including counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, and measures against organized crime. They also reviewed regional and global security issues of common interest, signaling a shared recognition of the need for structured engagement at the strategic level.

India-Canada ties: How are both sides preparing for a reset?

Officials said the appointment of new envoys to Ottawa and New Delhi earlier this month has laid the groundwork for a reset. Both governments have emphasized a “collaborative approach” and are working to expand cooperation under the guidance of their top political leadership.

The MEA noted that there is “clear momentum for rebuilding trust,” even as sensitive issues continue to linger. “The two sides agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations,” the ministry stated.

What does this mean for future India–Canada ties?

The renewed dialogue suggests that both countries are willing to compartmentalize past tensions while building mechanisms to address security concerns more directly. For New Delhi, a firmer Canadian stance on terrorism and separatism will remain a litmus test of trust.

For Ottawa, stabilizing ties with India is increasingly viewed as critical in the context of broader Indo-Pacific realignments.