Canada and India announced the new high commissioners to the countries of the other on Thursday, in the last sign of improving frayed ties for the accusation of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India was linked to the murder of a Sij separatist leader on Canadian soil.
The previous high commissioner of India left Canada in October. Ottawa said he was among the six diplomats who were expelled after they were linked to the murder of the separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, while India said he had retired to the envoy.
India also said that same day that he had ordered the expulsion of six high -ranking Canadian diplomats, including the High Commissioner of Actioning.
The successor of Trudeau, Mark Carney, and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, agreed to restore the upper diplomats when they held their first bilateral meeting in Canada in June.
The Canada Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday that the veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter would take office, which he had been vacant since the previous holder went last year.
“The appointment of a new high commissioner reflects the step -by -step approach of Canada to deepen diplomatic commitment and the advance of bilateral cooperation with India,” said Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Anita Anand, in a statement.
The Indian Foreign Ministry said that its new high commissioner, Dineh K Patnaik, was expected to assume the task shortly. “
Nijjar, who was appointed terrorist by India in 2020, was shot dead outside a SIJ temple in June 2023.
Trudeau in September of that year said that Canada was looking for “credible accusations” that link the agents of the Indian government with their murder, but India dismissed the claims and accused Canada of providing a safe refuge for the SIJS separatists.
Canada has the largest population of SIJS outside the Punjab in India. India is the main source of foreign workers and temporary international students in Canada, as well as an important market for legumes such as yellow lentils and peas.
The Canadian Prime Minister, Carney, has emphasized the importance of diversifying trade away from the United States.
The appointment of a new high commissioner occurred one day after the duplication of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, of the rate of imports of India, up to 50 percent entered into force, delivering a serious blow to the ties.
