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‘No longer a threat’: How Canada U-turned on India ahead of Carney visit

World • 3d ago
‘No longer a threat’: How Canada U-turned on India ahead of Carney visit
**Canada Turns a New Leaf on India Relations** As Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares to visit India, a significant shift in Ottawa's tone towards New Delhi has sent shockwaves across the diplomatic landscape. In a stunning reversal, Canadian officials now describe India as no longer a "security threat", a claim that comes as a relief for some, but raises concerns for others. For Sikh activists like Moninder Singh, who heads the Sikh Federation of Canada, the threat to their lives remains very real. Despite receiving multiple warnings, Singh continues to live in fear, with the latest threat targeting his wife and two children. Singh's association with Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen assassinated in June 2023, has made him a target of Indian government agents, according to Canadian authorities. The killing of Nijjar sparked a massive diplomatic row between Canada and India, with Ottawa accusing New Delhi of transnational repression targeting Sikh activists abroad. But with Carney's visit to India just around the corner, Ottawa appears to be softening its stance. A senior Canadian government official has now described India as no longer a threat, a move that analysts say marks a significant shift in Canada's approach to India under Carney. Carney's visit to New Delhi this week is seen as an opportunity to reset the bilateral relationship, which hit new lows under Canada's former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The rupture in ties was fueled by tit-for-tat accusations and the expulsion of diplomats, particularly after Nijjar's killing. Under Trudeau, Canada accused India of interfering in its domestic politics, including by providing funds to politicians whom New Delhi preferred. India viewed Nijjar and others in the Khalistani movement as "terrorists", and Ottawa's accusations were seen as a challenge to New Delhi's authority. As Carney seeks to diversify Canada's foreign relations, including to cushion the impact from the United States trade war, his visit to India is seen as a key opportunity to reboot the bilateral relationship. But for Sikh activists like Moninder Singh, the threat to their lives remains a pressing concern, and they will be watching Carney's visit closely to see if Ottawa's new tone translates into tangible action. As Nigeria's own experiences with separatist movements show, the complexities of transnational repression and the delicate balance of international relations can have far-reaching consequences. The Carney visit to India is a reminder that even the most seemingly intractable conflicts can be reset with a change in tone and approach
Source: Original Article. AI-enhanced version.