India, Canada signal thaw in relations as foreign ministers hold first phone call in months
New Delhi: In a potential sign of easing diplomatic tensions, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Canada’s new Foreign Minister Anita Anand spoke over the phone, marking the first high-level contact since the two nations were embroiled in a serious diplomatic row.
The call comes ahead of the upcoming G7 summit, which Canada is set to host next month. India, having attended the last six G7 summits as a guest during outreach sessions, is reportedly eager to be invited again this year. While Australia and Ukraine are believed to be on the guest list, it remains unclear whether India has received a formal invitation.
Jaishankar, in a post on social media platform X, said he “appreciated” the conversation with Anand and discussed “the prospects of India-Canada ties.” He also wished her “a very successful tenure.”
Anand, in a corresponding post, described the discussion as “productive” and highlighted their focus on strengthening bilateral ties, deepening economic cooperation, and advancing shared priorities. “I look forward to continuing our work together,” she said.
The diplomatic call follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulatory message to Prime Minister Mark Carney following his election win in April, a gesture widely viewed as India’s first move toward resetting ties after nearly 19 months of strained relations.
The tension had escalated in September 2023 when the Canadian government under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian officials of involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a charge India strongly denied. In response to the allegation and the expulsion of six Indian diplomats, India undertook reciprocal diplomatic measures, resulting in a prolonged standoff.
India has consistently accused Canada of giving space to anti-India groups operating from its soil, while Canada reiterated its concerns through official channels, including statements by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police linking Indian officials to covert campaigns against Canadian citizens.
Despite these challenges, the new leadership in Ottawa and recent diplomatic engagements suggest a cautious but deliberate effort on both sides to rebuild trust. Modi’s earlier post had emphasized the importance of democratic values and people-to-people ties between the two nations, indicating a shared interest in moving forward.
Whether these gestures will translate into a full diplomatic rapprochement — including India’s participation in the G7 — remains to be seen. However, the phone call between Jaishankar and Anand is being viewed as a positive first step in that direction.
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Illegally stored gas cylinders seized
Thane (PTI): Authorities have seized illegally stored 1,839 gas cylinders and seven vehicles worth over Rs 67 lakh in the Dombivli MIDC area of Thane district, officials said on Saturday.
A special vigilance team of the Mumbai Rationing Department detected an illegal storage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders in Phase-2 of Dombivli (East).
Cylinders belonging to multiple gas agencies were found stockpiled in closed vehicles, unauthorised warehouses, and open sheds without mandatory permissions from the Explosives Department, Fire Department, or oil companies, according to an official release.
