New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized a commitment to collaborate with India on significant issues following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy on Friday. Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, Trudeau expressed a positive outlook on future cooperation.
“We discussed some critical, sensitive issues and agreed on the need to work together on these matters in the coming times,” Trudeau told reporters on Saturday.
This interaction between the two leaders comes amidst a backdrop of strained relations after Canadian authorities accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Trudeau and Modi had previously met at the G20 Summit hosted by India in September last year.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen wanted in India on multiple terror charges, was shot dead outside a Gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023. These allegations led to a significant diplomatic fallout, with both countries expelling diplomats.
In May, three Indian nationals were arrested in Canada in connection with Nijjar’s murder. India has maintained that “political interests” are influencing the situation and has criticized Canada for providing space to separatists and extremists.
While Trudeau asserted that Canada is “a rule-of-law country” and that the investigation is ongoing, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted concerns about Canada issuing visas to individuals linked to organized crime, despite warnings from Delhi.
India’s primary issue with Canada remains the political space given to separatist, terrorist, and anti-India elements within the country.
