NEW DELHI / OTTAWA (TIP): In a move signaling normalization of diplomatic relations that were scuttled by the spat over the murder of a pro-Khalistan activist in 2023 in British Columbia, Canada and India on Thursday, August 28, 2025, announced the appointment of High Commissioners. The move came around two-and-a-half months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, where both leaders agreed to appoint envoys and upgrade ties.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand said that Christopher Cooter, a career foreign service officer with 35 years of diplomatic experience, will be the new High Commissioner of Canada to India. Hours later, the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi announced that Dinesh K. Patnaik of the 1990 Indian Foreign Service cadre will take up charge of the High Commissioner of India to Canada “shortly”. Mr. Patnaik is currently the Indian ambassador to Spain.
“The appointment of a new High Commissioner reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India. This appointment is an important development toward restoring services for Canadians while strengthening the bilateral relationship to support Canada’s economy,” said Ms. Anand on Thursday.
India and Canada engaged in a tit-for-tat diplomatic spat after relations deteriorated over Canadian authorities blaming Indian agents for the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, on June 18, 2023. India on October 14, 2024, withdrew its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other senior diplomats stationed in Canada’s capital Ottawa. Before that, last September, India had expelled Canada’s High Commissioner Cameron MacKay.
In January 2025, Liberal Party’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had made dramatic allegations in the Canadian parliament in September 2023, about India’s alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar, resigned in the backdrop of increased political uncertainty at home. Despite facing setbacks earlier, the Liberal Party led by Trudeau’s successor Mr. Carney won the election in April defeating conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. A beginning towards restoring the relationship was made on May 25 when External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Ms. Anand and conveyed his best wishes for a successful tenure ahead. This was followed by Prime Minister Modi’s arrival in Kananaskis on June 16 for the G7 summit.
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