Following a period of strained relations, India and Canada have agreed to a security workplan after a meeting between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie Drouin. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced the agreement on Saturday, September 20, 2025, signaling a potential turning point in the bilateral relationship. The meeting, which took place in New Delhi on Thursday, September 18, 2025, focused on repairing relations that had been negatively impacted by the diplomatic fallout following the killing of a Sikh separatist in 2023.
Both sides have committed to a collaborative approach aimed at fostering a new chapter in their relationship. This includes closer cooperation in combating terrorism and transnational crimes. The MEA stated that the discussions were productive and that both Doval and Drouin agreed to pursue constructive steps to restore stability in India-Canada ties.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to build upon discussions held between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, earlier in June. Both sides acknowledged a clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership.
The specific areas of focus for enhanced cooperation include counter-terrorism efforts, combating transnational organized crime, and intelligence exchanges. The two NSAs also discussed priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments. They agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement.
The agreement on a security workplan follows a particularly difficult period in India-Canada relations, which were strained after allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023. Trudeau had suggested a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has dismissed these accusations as absurd. The situation led to both countries downgrading diplomatic ties and expelling diplomats. However, contacts between security and intelligence officials reportedly resumed late last year as both sides sought to repair their relationship. More recently, Canada designated the Bishnoi Gang as a terrorist organization.
The MEA has previously emphasized that the Canadian government is responsible for providing security to Indian diplomatic missions in Canada, particularly in light of growing Khalistani threats. The agreement on a security workplan represents a significant step towards addressing these concerns and rebuilding trust between the two nations.