Newly released documents reveal that Prime Minister Mark Carney was advised to make any diplomatic reset with India contingent on a public commitment to accountability — a pledge that has yet to materialize and is now fueling frustration and fear across Sikh communities in Canada.
The heavily redacted briefing note, obtained through access-to-information laws, was drafted in May ahead of Carney’s first official call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In it, his senior foreign and defence adviser urged Canada to secure a public, good-faith commitment from India acknowledging accountability concerns tied to alleged criminal activity and targeted killings on Canadian soil. The recommendation came as the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar continued to cast a long shadow over bilateral relations.
Despite renewed diplomatic engagement, Sikh leaders say the government has not delivered on that expectation. Balpreet Singh of the World Sikh Organization questioned the absence of progress, noting that fears within the community have shifted from anxiety to anger. Concerns intensified after India’s new envoy to Canada publicly cast doubt on Canadian allegations during a recent televised interview.
Carney’s outreach marks the sharpest shift in Indo-Canadian relations since the deep freeze that took hold under Justin Trudeau, when diplomatic expulsions and stalled investigations strained ties for years. Canada has sought renewed trade opportunities amid U.S. protectionism, and India’s role in global supply chains has made re-engagement a strategic priority for the Carney government. Modi’s invitation to the G7 Summit in June was viewed as a key symbol of that effort.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, Canada’s first Hindu cabinet minister, has been central to the reset, emphasizing improved rapport with Modi and pointing to personal gestures — including Modi’s offer to assist in spreading her father’s ashes in the Ganges — as signs of warming relations.
Yet for Sikh Canadians, the central issue remains unanswered: accountability. Community groups argue that without a public pledge from India, Canada is extending goodwill without any concrete assurance of cooperation. While the government insists progress is underway behind the scenes — with National Security Adviser Nathalie Drouin and CSIS Director Dan Rogers engaging in revived security dialogues in India — critics say quiet diplomacy falls short.
Drouin has said Indian officials are cooperating with law enforcement, and the PMO maintains that accountability “remains a priority.” But India has not committed publicly to examining its alleged role in Nijjar’s killing. This stands in stark contrast to its response to the United States, where Modi ordered an inquiry into a suspected plot targeting Sikh American activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Security analysts warn that the absence of a public commitment risks making the diplomatic reset appear superficial. Moninder Singh of Sikh Federation Canada said that without transparency, reassurances amount to “words that mean nothing.” Rogers confirmed that while discussions with Indian intelligence officials have been candid and include potential cooperation on cyber threats, no inquiry into Nijjar’s killing has been part of those conversations.
As the Carney government attempts to balance trade priorities, geopolitical strategy, and the safety of Sikh Canadians, community advocates warn that trust is eroding. Until India issues a clear and public pledge of accountability, they say, the fears of targeted violence will persist — and Canada’s diplomatic reset will remain on shaky ground.