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New Delhi is understood to have strongly pressed its longstanding concerns about Khalistani extremism, the extradition of wanted terrorists sheltered abroad.
The meeting between India’s NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin comes weeks after the two countries exchanged new high commissioners. (Shutterstock)
In what is being described by senior officials as a “reset moment,” India and Canada held National Security Adviser (NSA)-level talks in New Delhi this week, marking the first significant thaw in ties since the fallout over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.
The meeting between India’s NSA Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin comes weeks after the two countries exchanged new high commissioners in August 2025, signaling a willingness to re-engage at the highest levels. According to diplomatic sources, both sides struck a positive note, underlining security, trade, and energy as priority areas.
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New Delhi is understood to have strongly pressed its longstanding concerns about Khalistani extremism, the extradition of wanted terrorists sheltered abroad, and what it sees as interference by Canada in its domestic matters. Indian officials also reiterated evidence previously shared in confidential Singapore meetings earlier this year.
For its part, Ottawa is reported to have shown a readiness to deepen cooperation in intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism. Sources close to the discussions said this represents a notable shift from past standoffs, aligning with broader trade and energy engagement reflected during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Calgary earlier this year.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar publicly echoed the optimism, noting that “things are moving in the right direction” and hinting at the possibility of resumed high-level visits and the establishment of joint security mechanisms in the near future.
Strategic analysts argue that if sustained, this new understanding could help unlock up to $20 billion in bilateral trade potential while also contributing to stability in Indo-Pacific geopolitics. However, Indian officials privately cautioned that New Delhi will “test Canadian sincerity” by closely monitoring Ottawa’s actions against pro-Khalistan networks operating on its soil.
The Doval–Drouin talks are thus being viewed not as a breakthrough, but as the first concrete step in bridging what has been one of the most contentious periods in India–Canada relations in recent decades.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
September 19, 2025, 13:56 IST
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