By – Jyothi Sharma
Introduction
India and Canada have had a great history together, given the relations of mutual ties in diplomatic, economic, and cultural interests. As commonwealth countries, with similar democratic values and diverse populations, India and Canada have fostered multiple connections, from education and trade to defence and technology. [1]In return, it provides them with technology, services, and skilled personnel. That is why the respective economic interdependence nourishes this partnership and development continues in both regions.
Moreover, they have addressed problems in the defence and technology area such as clean energy and cyber security among other cooperation areas. The towing of these ambitious ends engages the globe’s critical challenges and the two countries step up towards solving these through innovation.[2]
In 2023, however, further developments in this engagement had led to more strained relations. In this regard, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had created a diplomatic crisis in stating that the Indian government helped one of its operatives assassinate Canadian Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar[3]. Thus, it was pointed out the complexities under which the Khalistan movement developed. It is, however, a prospect that can be realized through healthy dialogue by that day, given the existing such tensions. The two nations-India and Canada-have been great in resilience over the years and will continue to overcome the trying times by manifesting shared principles and past connections.[4]
History Background of India-Canada Relations
India and Canada established full diplomatic relations shortly after India gained its independence in 1947. Their partnership was set on common interests, including trade, scientific collaboration[5], and cultural exchange. Some of the notable milestones in the relationship is the India-Canada Trade Agreement signed back in 1958, which from then on would be assisting the bilateral trade relations. [6]As of 2022, the bilateral trade was around $8 billion, mainly in agricultural products, technology, and natural resources. Another notable feature is that Canada has the largest Indian diaspora. More than 1.6 million Canadians are of Indian origin. This community largely changed the cultural landscape of the country and works as a bridge between the two nations. The first destination of choice for students from India is Canada. As of 2023, more than 230,000 Indians are enrolled in the institutions of Canada. Cultural exchange and economic ties are some forms of this exchange.
The Diplomatic Rift of 2023
The relationship came under one of the worst crises ever when, in September 2023, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, publicly blamed India for a conspiracy in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and leader of the pro-Khalistan separatist movement. This shooting incident changed the course of bilateral relations with its roots traced to the June 2023 killing of Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia. [8]He’s reportedly one of the most vocal figures supporting the separatist movement that advocates for a separate Sikh state within India, known as Khalistan. Trudeau, speaking in the Canadian Parliament, accused India of being behind the murder of Nijjar and made those allegations while stating that his country had reasons to believe the killing was an official Indian government action.[9]
India reacted strongly, dismissing the allegations as “absurd” and political. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement condemning the accusations and sent packing a senior Canadian diplomat in retaliation to the intensifying diplomatic tension. Canada retaliated by sending packing an Indian diplomat, causing fears that the bilateral relations are headed for a disastrous future, especially within the historical context of the Khalistan issue.[10]
The Khalistan Issue: A Thorn in the Side
The Khalistan issue has been a thorny issue in the relations between India and Canada for several decades. Without this appreciation of the nicety of the subject, the details of the diplomatic tension cannot be easily understood[11]. In the early 1980s, during the outbreak of violently militant insurgency in Punjab, the movement was led by militants towards an independent Sikh state when the Indian government responded harshly to it, causing major casualties. The Canadian Sikhs, that also covers both British Columbia and Ontario, are highly divided with some demanding peaceful agitation for the separate state while others demand outright violence. This makes it highly complicated for Canada to respond to the movement as there are controversies over infringement on free speech rights.[12]
India views the Canadian government’s tolerant approach to pro-Khalistan sentiments as a threat to the security of the nation. One of the major incidents that brings forth such concerns was the 1985 Air India bombing, which was widely believed to have been caused by Khalistan extremists. The Sikh diaspora population had become significant, making the issue of Khalistan quite political in Canada. Canadian politicians, especially liberals, were under pressure from their electorates to take steps to ensure their concerns while not losing their way in keeping good relations with India. This complex dynamic therefore has made it difficult to handle the matters at hand in the Khalistan movement positively.
Economic and Trade Relations: Possible Consequences
The diplomatic row has also been described as a red flag in the sense that the economic and trade relationship between India and Canada might be affected. Bilateral trade between the countries stands at approximately $8 billion 2022, and the sectors affected comprise agriculture, technology, and natural resources. Canada is India’s biggest supplier of pulses, and thus investment in pulses will be an important addition towards the food security of India. Over the past few years, Canadian companies have heavily invested in India in the sectors of IT, clean energy, and infrastructure, while Indian companies have been quite active in Canada, mainly in the sectors of technology and natural resources.[14]
Despite all the political tension between the two countries, there is enough reason on both sides to encourage closer economic cooperation. Natural resources abound in Canada, and a growing market such as India offers great opportunities for cooperation. The recent diplomatic spat has raised further questions about the security and welfare of Indian students in Canada, and this affects the next enrolments. Education provides the basic link between the two countries and friendly ties must be preserved to enhance cooperation.
The Truce: Recent Diplomatic Initiatives
Both India and Canada realized by the end of 2023 that the situation had gone out of hand and a temporary truce was in order. Serious high-level diplomatic dialogues initiated between high-ranking officials from both nations so that tensions began to abate. The Canadian officials accepted that it was essential to address Indian concerns over the Khalistan movement[15]. The Prime Minister himself therefore toned down his previous statements and laid much emphasis on the importance of cooperation and dialogue. Overall, he admitted that concrete evidence is usually required on any claims made regarding India’s role in Nijjar’s death.
The U turn in this policy directed that there was a need to understand the importance of not letting the relationship get dysfunctional. Both professed willingness on both sides-as far as trade and education go-for dialogue to be revived. The international world saw that India-Canada needed to be taken care of by both the countries, and thus countries like the United States and the United Kingdom also called upon the country to take this step forward[16].
The Role of Domestic Politics in India-Canada Relations
To an extent, the dynamics of domestic politics in Canada have been a critical variable in shaping relations between India and Canada. The very significant Sikh community in Canada constitutes a vital voting bank and, for the party leadership, particularly that of the Liberal Party, it has become a challenge to fulfil responding to the same while keeping good relations with India intact. The opposition parties have slammed the Trudeau Liberal Party on this matter of dealing with the issue[17]. Both the New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party have been calling upon the government to take stronger measures against those chanting slogans hailing Khalistan.
A vibrant public opinion on issues such as national security and human rights, freedom of speech, makes the political scenario even more challenging. Though a strong lobby exists for Khalistan, a vast majority of Canadians want a united India. The political scenario can further reshape diplomatic ties between the two nations, which will be approached differently with each political campaign set to run their elections in Canada.
Road Ahead: Collaboration Opportunities
Despite these challenges, there are abundant opportunities in rebuilding trust and strengthening India and Canada’s relationship. There must be deeper diplomacy that implies fruitful diplomatic engagement with open and frank discussion of one another’s concerns. Having a dedicated channel of diplomacy to talk about sensitive issues would make both parties better aware of each other. [19]In the last place, finding focus areas on trade and investment opportunities might be a stabilizing component in the relationship between the two countries, where both parties are going to be more zealous about avoiding successive diplomatic confrontations.
Expansion of educational exchanges will further mutually understanding and cultural appreciation. The two nations can mutually collaborate on and develop academic programs that place emphasis on common values and history. Cooperative innovation, especially in clean energy and information technology, will strengthen the economic ties and help contribute toward the global challenges. At first, cultural exchanges can play a role in further dispelling misconceptions and promoting goodwill, thus making people-to-people ties more appealing.[20]
Conclusion
India-Canada relations are at a watershed moment, as the diplomatic furore in recent times has thrown open the delicacies of their partnership[21]. Charges related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the long-standing Khalistan issue have pushed the bilateral relationship to a new low. Still, the recent de-escalation of tension does offer a ray of hope for rebuilding the relationship. Both the nations will have to balance their respective domestic political imperatives while at the same time coming to grips with the need to work together on issues of mutual concern[22]. India and Canada, being democratic countries, with a shared history of cooperation on various grounds, can relate in a far better constructive and productive manner that will also be beneficial for both the nations and their citizens in the long run. [23]It can help them open a brighter future together by focusing on dialogue, economic ties, and cultural exchanges.[24]
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[11] Staff Reporter, What Is Khalistan, the Source of Tensions between Canada and India?, What is Khalistan, the source of tensions between Canada and India?, https://www.trtworld.com/asia/what-is-khalistan-the-source-of-tensions-between-canada-and-india-18220242 (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
[12] The Canadian Sikhs, that also covers both British Columbia and Ontario, are highly divided with some demanding peaceful agitation for the separate state while others demand outright violence. This makes it highly complicated for Canada to respond to the movement as there are controversies over infringement on free speech rights., Bing, https://www.bing.com:9943/search?q=The Canadian Sikhs%2C that also covers both British Columbia and Ontario%2C are highly divided with some demanding peaceful agitation for the separate state while others demand outright violence. This makes it highly complicated for Canada to respond to the movement as there are controversies over infringement on free speech rights.&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&lq=1&pq=the canadian sikhs%2C that also covers both british columbia and ontario%2C are highly divided with some demanding peaceful agitation for the separate state while others demand outright violence. this makes it highly complicated for canada to respond to the movement as there are controversies over infringement on free speech rights.&sc=0-330&sk=&cvid=3EF29CC55D5340E78259786043FD5A19&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl= (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
[13] Mark Juergensmeyer, Why India Fears the Khalistan Movement and How Canada Became Embroiled in Diplomatic Spat over Killing of Sikh Separatist, The Conversation (2023), http://theconversation.com/why-india-fears-the-khalistan-movement-and-how-canada-became-embroiled-in-diplomatic-spat-over-killing-of-sikh-separatist-213960 (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
[14] Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sector Trend Analysis – Pulse Trends in India, (2024), https://agriculture.canada.ca/en/international-trade/market-intelligence/reports/sector-trend-analysis-pulse-trends-india-0 (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
[15] Both India and Canada realized by the end of 2023 that the situation had gone out of hand and a temporary truce was in order. Serious high-level diplomatic dialogues initiated between high-ranking officials from both nations so that tensions began to abate. The Canadian officials accepted that it was essential to address Indian concerns over the Khalistan movement, Bing, https://www.bing.com:9943/search?q=Both India and Canada realized by the end of 2023 that the situation had gone out of hand and a temporary truce was in order. Serious high-level diplomatic dialogues initiated between high-ranking officials from both nations so that tensions began to abate. The Canadian officials accepted that it was essential to address Indian concerns over the Khalistan movement&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&lq=1&pq=both india and canada realized by the end of 2023 that the situation had gone out of hand and a temporary truce was in order. serious high-level diplomatic dialogues initiated between high-ranking officials from both nations so that tensions began to abate. the canadian officials accepted that it was essential to address indian concerns over the khalistan movement&sc=0-366&sk=&cvid=82E4065095BD41108BE814E34C908425&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl= (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
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[17] Norimitsu Onishi, Rising Separatism, and a Killing, at a Sikh Temple in Canada, The New York Times, Sep. 21, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/21/world/canada/hardeep-singh-nijjar-sikh-canada-india.html (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
[18] Why Is Free Speech Limited in India?, https://thediplomat.com/2022/10/why-is-free-speech-limited-in-india/ (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
[19] Despite these challenges, there are abundant opportunities in rebuilding trust and strengthening India and Canada’s relationship. There must be deeper diplomacy that implies fruitful diplomatic engagement with open and frank discussion of one another’s concerns. Having a dedicated channel of diplomacy to talk about sensitive issues would make both parties better aware of each other. I, Bing, https://www.bing.com/search?q=Despite these challenges%2C there are abundant opportunities in rebuilding trust and strengthening India and Canada%27s relationship. There must be deeper diplomacy that implies fruitful diplomatic engagement with open and frank discussion of one another%27s concerns. Having a dedicated channel of diplomacy to talk about sensitive issues would make both parties better aware of each other. I&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&ghc=1&lq=1&pq=despite these challenges%2C there are abundant opportunities in rebuilding trust and strengthening india and canada%27s relationship. there must be deeper diplomacy that implies fruitful diplomatic engagement with open and frank discussion of one another%27s concerns. having a dedicated channel of diplomacy to talk about sensitive issues would make both parties better aware of each other. i&sc=1-387&sk=&cvid=DD89638A638F4281962520F0746DB71C&ghsh=0&ghacc=0&ghpl= (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
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[22] Amy Mackinnon Detsch Jack, The United Nations Is Still the Biggest Platform for Global Cooperation, Foreign Policy (Oct. 16, 2024), https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/09/25/the-united-nations-is-still-the-biggest-platform-for-global-cooperation/ (last visited Oct 16, 2024).
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[24] Cutting Edge | From standing out to reaching out: cultural diplomacy for sustainable development | UNESCO, https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/cutting-edge-standing-out-reaching-out-cultural-diplomacy-sustainable-development (last visited Oct 16, 2024).