BILATERAL TIES KEY FOCUS OF MODI'S PACKED DAY AT G7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney have agreed on a range of "calibrated and constructive" steps to restore stability to bilateral ties, including the posting of envoys to each other's capitals, after a prolonged diplomatic spat over the killing of a pro-Khalistan separatist.

- Anirudh Bhattacharyya and Rezaul H Laskar

Anirudh Bhattacharyya and Rezaul H Laskar [e-mail] KANANASKIS/NEW DELHI:

Modi described India's relations with Canada as "very important", while Carney pointed to the importance of bilateral ties based on "mutual respect and the rule of law", and said the two sides discussed opportunities to partner for economic growth.

The Indian side billed the meeting of the two leaders on the margins of the G7 Summit in Canada as an opportunity to reset relations sent into a tailspin after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that Indian government agents were linked to the murder of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the accusation as absurd and accused the Trudeau government of giving space to extremist and radical elements that posed a threat to Indian diplomats and diplomatic facilities.

"India-Canada relations are very important in many ways. Many Canadian companies have invested in India, Indian people have made very big investments on the soil of Canada," Modi said. "India and Canada, which are dedicated to democratic values, must unitedly strengthen democracy and humanity by making optimum utilisation of our resources," he said.

Carney said in a social media post the two leaders "reaffirmed the importance of Canada-India ties, based upon mutual respect and the rule of law, and discussed opportunities to partner for economic growth".

Readouts issued by both sides indicated that the security-related issues that led to the downturn in relations were a key part of the discussions between the two leaders. While using nearly identical language, both readouts said Modi and Carney reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties based on shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.