In an attempt to mend the strained bilateral ties between India and Canada, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday dialed Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and discussed several prospects of strengthening the diplomatic ties.
This reportedly was the first high-level political engagement between the two nations since Mark Carney became the Canadian Prime Minister.
Under former prime minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, the bilateral relations between the two countries nosedived significantly based on the PM's allegations of Indian government's direct role in orchestrating the murder of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. .
After the telephonic conversation with his Canadian counterpart, EAM S Jaishankar posted on X, 바카라Appreciate the telecon with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada. Discussed the prospects of India-Canada ties. Wished her a very successful tenure.바카라
58-year-old Indo-Canadian Anand was appointed as Canada바카라s Minister of Foreign Affairs earlier this month following a Cabinet rejig by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Before the Canada elections, Anand was in charge of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Industry. In the past, she also held the portfolio of defence ministry.
Describing the conversation as a very 'productive' one, the Canadian Foreign Minister said, 바카라Thank you Minister @DrSJaishankar for the productive discussion today on strengthening Canada바카라India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities. I look forward to continuing our work together,바카라 Anand said on X.
As per media reports, Jaishankar and Anand's discussion primarily focused on prospects to strengthen economic cooperation and advancing shared priorities.
Anand, who was sworn in earlier this month, described the conversation as "productive".
"Thank you Minister @DrSJaishankar for the productive discussion today on strengthening Canada바카라India ties, deepening our economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities. I look forward to continuing our work together," she said in a post on X.
India-Canada Bilateral Ties
On September 2023, the ties between India and Canada came under strain following then Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's controversial allegations concerning "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. New Delhi, however, rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".
The relations nosedived further after Ottawa linked several Indian diplomats including High Commissioner Sanjay Verma to the murder of Nijjar.
In October last, India withdrew Verma and five other diplomats. India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.
In the last few months, the security officials of India and Canada resumed contacts and both sides are looking at the possibility of appointing new high commissioners.
