Canada Envoy Urges Reset With India After Nijjar Crisis

Canadian High Commissioner Christopher Cooter has said that India and Canada must draw lessons from the Nijjar episode and move ahead, signalling a push to steady a relationship that has been under strain.

In remarks on the future of the bilateral relationship, Cooter addressed the progress made since the crisis and the path toward restoring normal engagement between the two countries.

Among the issues he touched on was the possibility of a visit to Canada by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a step that would mark a significant moment in the recovery of high-level contacts.

Trade negotiations between the two sides, which had been disrupted amid the diplomatic rift, also figured in his remarks, along with the question of student visas — a key concern for Indian students and for Canadian institutions that rely on their presence.

Security cooperation and the evolving geopolitical partnership between India and Canada rounded out the areas he identified as central to the relationship's next phase.

The comments point to a willingness on the Canadian side to look past the dispute and rebuild a working partnership across trade, mobility and security.