India is cooperating with Canada and bilateral ties are bettering after tensions spiked over the homicide of a Sikh separatist chief in British Columbia, a prime Canadian official instructed CTV in an interview printed on Friday.
Diplomatic relations soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau final 12 months stated Canada was “actively pursuing credible allegations” that Indian brokers have been doubtlessly linked to the June 2023 homicide of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen. India has denied any formal authorities position in Nijjar’s homicide.
“I would not describe them (the Indians) as not cooperating. I feel we have made developments in that relationship,” Jody Thomas, Trudeau’s nationwide safety adviser, instructed CTV.
CTV printed an excerpt from the interview on its web site on Friday. The full interview might be aired on Sunday.
“The info that they (the Americans) revealed supported our place and our assertions with India, and India is working with us … much more intently to resolve this,” Thomas instructed CTV. Trudeau stated in December he sensed a change in New Delhi’s tone with Ottawa after the US case.
The acrimony has delayed discussions on a free-trade deal and threatened Canada’s plans to develop its affect within the Indo-Pacific area, the place New Delhi’s cooperation is vital to efforts to test an more and more assertive China.
“Our capability to operate within the Indo Pacific does depend on having a wholesome relationship with India. And I feel that we’re working again in direction of that,” Thomas stated. Around 2 million Canadians, or 5% of the inhabitants, have Indian heritage.
Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India after New Delhi in September requested Ottawa to scale back its diplomatic presence following Trudeau’s remarks.