India, Canada hold rare high-level talks amid long-standing tensions

NEW DELHI: As the two countries work to improve strained ties, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he has spoken with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

The phone conversation, which came about Sunday night, is the highest level of diplomatic engagement between Canada and India, since Mark Carney was appointed prime minister of Canada in March.

Ties between Canada and India were strained following accusations of New Delhi’s involvement in the 2023 assassination of a Canadian Sikh, claims India denied.

Jaishankar said he had "discussed the prospects of India-Canada ties" with newly appointed Canadian foreign minister and he had "wished her a very successful tenure".

Anand, whose parents hailed from India, said on X she looked forward "strengthening Canada-India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities".

Canada is home to the largest Sikh community outside of India and includes activists for "Khalistan", a separatist movement seeking an independent state for the religious minority carved out of Indian territory.

Ottawa previously accused India of orchestrating the 2023 killing in Vancouver of 45-year-old naturalised Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistan campaigner, and targeting other Sikh activists connected to the movement.

India has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, which sent diplomatic relations into freefall, with both nations last year expelling a string of top diplomats.

The Khalistan campaign dates back to India’s 1947 independence and has been blamed for the assassination of a prime minister and the bombing of a passenger jet.

It has been a bitter issue between India and several Western nations with large Sikh populations.

New Delhi demands stricter action against the Khalistan movement, which is banned in India, with key leaders accused of "terrorism".

Canada will host the G7 summit next month.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend previous summits since 2019, when France invited him to Biarritz. There are no details as to whether Modi has been invited to Canada.