Before Prime Minister Mark Carney's high-profile trip to India to strengthen business ties with New Delhi following years of diplomatic turmoil, authorities in Ottawa appear to be reversing their accusations of Indian meddling and transnational repression on Canadian soil. Senior government officials allegedly informed the media before to Carney's departure that if the government thought India was actively meddling in Canada's political process, the prime minister would most likely not be visiting India.According to an official quoted by CTV, "We have a mature, robust discussion with the Government of India on these issues, and we have robust safeguards in place to avoid foreign interference."

The report claims that while the sources did not specify when Ottawa changed its stance, they did state that there had been a "systematic engagement" with the Indian administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including at the levels of senior officials, ministers, and leaders.According to reports, a government official stated, "These issues have been brought up on a regular basis, and we are certain that we have the foundation for more fruitful discussion."
Additionally, a second official emphasized that Canada has "no tolerance" for foreign intervention in domestic matters. They stated, "I really don't think we'd be taking this trip" if Ottawa thought that the Indian government was still interfering with foreign affairs.

Canada's Previous Accusations
The comments stand in sharp contrast to the accusations made against India by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in June of last year, when the agency charged India as being one of the primary perpetrators of foreign espionage and intervention in Canada.
Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a naturalized Canadian citizen who supported the creation of an independent Sikh state known as Khalistan, was killed in 2023. The agency described the connection between the Indian government and the murder as a "significant escalation in India's repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America." Additionally, it cautioned Canada about the ongoing foreign meddling by the Indian government.

Although Canada's accusations led to a tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats from both Ottawa and New Delhi, India has refuted the claims.
Mark Carney's Attempt to Mend Relationships
Today, Canadian Prime Minister Carney will begin his journey to the Indo-Pacific region by visiting India, where he intends to expedite efforts to strengthen trade connections and repair damaged ones. The visit is being presented as part of Ottawa's attempt to strengthen economic connections with India, the most populous nation in the world, and pursue a more "pragmatic" foreign policy.

Following Canadian accusations that India was complicit in the 2023 assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader, which New Delhi vehemently rejected, the two nations are seeking to mend their strained relationship. Prior to meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Carney will start his visit in Mumbai, the financial center of India.
Efforts to diversify commercial alliances are made more urgent by the quickly changing global trade policies and the uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump's tariffs. Talks will center on "ambitious new partnerships in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence (AI), talent and culture, and defense," according to Carney's office.

India-Canada Trade Growth
Canada's seventh-largest trading partner in goods and services is India, the world's fastest-growing major economy. According to Canadian government statistics, two-way trade is worth over $21 billion annually. The nations decided to start talks on a possible free-trade agreement last year with the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.After visiting Modi on the fringes of a G20 summit in South Africa in November, Carney declared, "That means big new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses."

"India and Canada have great potential in strengthening trade and investment," PM Modi stated at the time.
In India, there are about 600 Canadian businesses working in industries like banking, financial services, health sciences, and information technology. Precious stones, jewelry, seafood, and pharmaceuticals are among India's top exports to Canada.

The Khalistan Issue in Canada
There are about 2.8 million Indians or individuals of Indian descent living in Canada. According to New Delhi, there are around 400,000 Indian students enrolled at Canadian universities, making them the country's largest group of foreign students.
The largest Sikh community outside of India is found in Canada. There are fringe separatist groups in the community who want to create Khalistan, an independent state for Sikhs.Ottawa charged India with planning the 2023 murder of Canadian national Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a well-known Khalistan supporter, in Vancouver and pursuing other Sikh activists associated with the cause.
Both countries expelled a number of senior diplomats in 2024 as a result of India's repeated denials of the accusations, which caused diplomatic relations to collapse.
Envoys have now been reinstated, and relations have improved after Carney assumed office in March 2025.