Canada Sends First Diplomat To India Since 2023 Row, Signals Diplomatic Reset Post G7 Talks

Last Updated:August 01, 2025, 13:07 IST

The breakthrough marks the first major thaw since Sept 2023, when Canada accused Indian diplomats of backing Khalistani-linked violence, sparking a near two-year standoff.

PM Narendra Modi with Canadian PM Mark Carney. (Image: X/PMOIndia)

In a step toward restoring diplomatic normalcy, Canada has appointed its first diplomat to India since bilateral ties deteriorated in 2023 amid a major diplomatic fallout. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jeff David as the new Consul General in Mumbai, replacing Diedrah Kelly.

This marks the first diplomatic posting by Canada to India since October 2023, when Ottawa withdrew 41 diplomats, following India’s insistence on maintaining parity in diplomatic presence. The pullout came in the wake of a sharp dispute over alleged Indian involvement in activities related to Khalistani separatists on Canadian soil.

The scaled-down diplomatic footprint had disrupted key consular services, including visa processing and academic collaboration. David’s appointment is seen as an early signal of betterment in relations between the two countries, which have recently shown signs of engagement, following high-level discussions on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

India-Canada Diplomatic Reset Begins

India and Canada have begun resetting their strained diplomatic ties following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, in mid-June. The two leaders agreed to take concrete steps toward restoring full diplomatic engagement, including the reappointment of high commissioners, resumption of suspended free trade talks, and the restoration of normal embassy operations.

The breakthrough marks the first major thaw after a nearly two-year standoff, which began in September 2023 when the Trudeau-led government accused Indian diplomats of supporting violence linked to Khalistani separatists on Canadian soil. The diplomatic fallout led to both countries expelling senior officials and freezing key negotiations.

According to sources cited by The Times of India, both governments have already exchanged names for new high commissioner appointments, with formal announcements expected soon. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the development as part of its “calibrated" diplomacy, emphasising that while ties are being repaired, core concerns, particularly those related to separatist extremism, remain firmly on the table.

In a statement following the G7 meeting, the MEA said that Modi and Carney had agreed to revive senior ministerial and working-level dialogues across multiple sectors, along with restarting discussions on a long-pending Canada-India free trade pact that was halted just before the diplomatic fallout in 2023.

Abhro Banerjee

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ...Read More

Covering day-to-day national and international news for the last nine years across print and digital. Associated with News18.com as Chief Sub-Editor since 2022, covering innumerable big and small events, includ...

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August 01, 2025, 13:07 IST

News india Canada Sends First Diplomat To India Since 2023 Row, Signals Diplomatic Reset Post G7 Talks

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