India, Canada see thaw in relations, mull high commissioner postings

India and Canada have resumed contacts between security agencies and are eyeing the possibility of appointing new high commissioners, paving the way for a reset of diplomatic ties after the storm over the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, people familiar with the matter said.

- Anirudh Bhattacharyya & Rezaul H Laskar

Discussions between the two sides through diplomatic and security channels resumed around December, after the relationship went through another rough patch in October, when India withdrew its high commissioner and five other diplomats who were declared "persons of interest" in the investigation into Nijjar's killing and expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats.

The Indian side considered a handful of diplomats for the position of the envoy in Ottawa and India's ambassador to Spain, Dinesh K. Patnaik, has emerged as a front-runner, the people familiar with ongoing conversations on both sides said on condition of anonymity.