Modi’s Visit to Canada Is a Calculated Risk — and a Rare Chance to Fix a Broken Relationship
Ten years after he last set foot in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to Kananaskis, Alberta this week. Officially, he’s there for the G7 summit outreach (June 15–17). Unofficially, all eyes are on his handshake with Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, and what it might mean for one of the most acrimonious bilateral relationships India currently manages.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just another foreign policy photo-op. It’s a delicate diplomatic gamble — and it could either restore a crucial partnership or reinforce the icy silence that has lingered since the Hardeep Singh Nijjar assassination allegations derailed the relationship in 2023.
Why Carney’s Call Matters
When Mark Carney picked up the phone last Friday to invite Mr. Modi, it wasn't just a courtesy call. It was a signal — to his own parliament, to the Indian government, and to the global diplomatic circuit — that Canada was ready to engage again, even if warily.
Carney, under pressure from critics who question how he could invite Modi amid a pending investigation into alleged Indian involvement in the Nijjar case, defended the decision by pointing to India's global economic heft and the need to include New Delhi in G7 deliberations.
What matters more is not the logic behind the invitation but the fact that it was extended and accepted. Both countries are tiptoeing toward a thaw, and in diplomacy, optics matter. A handshake at Kananaskis might not undo the past year’s damage — but it could at least begin to de-escalate.
The Long Shadow of 2023
India-Canada ties hit rock bottom in 2023 after then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Khalistani separatist leader.
Those allegations, still unproven, triggered a diplomatic standoff: India cut its diplomatic presence in Canada by nearly two-thirds, suspended visa services, and halted progress on a long-discussed free trade agreement. Canada followed suit with staff cuts, and talks froze.
The bitterness wasn’t new. It simply resurfaced long-standing Khalistan-related tensions, which have marred the relationship since the 1970s.
But the collateral damage went far beyond ministries and missions.
People, Not Politics, Should Define This Relationship
There are more than 1.86 million people of Indian origin living in Canada — one of the largest diasporas outside India. The ties run deep: in trade, in education, in people-to-people linkages, in remittances. The deteriorating relationship has left students stranded, businesses hanging, and families anxious.
A foreign policy defined entirely by political posturing will always fall short of the needs of the people it affects.
The Kananaskis meeting, however symbolic, can change that. It can remind both sides that dialogue is not endorsement — it’s just how grown-up democracies behave when real people’s lives are caught in the crossfire.
Resetting Without Retreating
Let’s not sugarcoat the road ahead. The Khalistan issue isn’t going away. Nor is the mistrust bred over years of accusation and ambiguity.
But a full diplomatic restoration — returning high commissioners and consular staff — should be non-negotiable. The absence of official channels is harming real-world processes like trade, travel, and law enforcement cooperation.
Carney’s announcement in Parliament that Modi has agreed to a “law enforcement dialogue” is a smart move. It allows both sides to address their key concerns — Canada can continue its Nijjar probe, while India can raise alarm over Khalistani extremism and threats to its diplomats and diaspora.
But none of it will matter unless the messaging is measured. Both leaders must publicly respect each other’s legal and political processes, even if they privately disagree on interpretations.
Kananaskis Isn’t the Solution — It’s the Door
The mistake many make with summits is expecting solutions. But summit diplomacy doesn’t solve problems; it makes space for them to be solved.
What Kananaskis offers is a doorway. If walked through wisely, it can lead to the restoration of trade talks, visa services, and academic exchanges — all frozen for far too long.
But if used for posturing or finger-pointing, it will only deepen the freeze.
What India Needs Now Is Strategic Patience
PM Modi’s decision to attend — knowing full well the optics and the risks — shows a maturity that could mark a turning point in India’s foreign policy posture. It’s easy to boycott, to disengage, to denounce. It’s harder to engage when it’s inconvenient, especially when domestic political sentiment may demand otherwise.
But that’s what statesmanship is.
India doesn’t need to retreat. But it does need to lead with maturity, especially in partnerships where history and community run deep.
If the Carney-Modi handshake in Alberta can pave even a narrow path back to normalcy, it will be worth more than any declaration signed at the G7.
TheTrendingPeople.com Opinion Desk
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