Committed to working together on key issues: Trudeau after meeting with PM Modi

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, fresh from a meeting with PM Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, stated that there was a commitment to collaborate with India on some “very important issues” amid a chill in relations between the two nations.

“I’m not going to get into the details of this important, sensitive issue that we need to follow up, but this was a commitment to work together, in the coming times, to deal with some very important issues,” Trudeau said at a press conference on the final day of the three-day G7 Summit in Italy.

On Friday, Prime Minister Modi posted an image on social media of the two leaders shaking hands, with a caption that read, “Met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit.”

The meeting, held in Apulia, southern Italy, marked the first encounter between the leaders since diplomatic tensions over pro-Khalistani extremism intensified. Their last meeting occurred on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in India in September.

Following the Friday evening meeting, the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office reported that the leaders had a “brief discussion on the bilateral relationship,” during which Trudeau congratulated PM Modi on his re-election.

“Of course, there are important issues between our two countries right now. You can appreciate that we won’t be making any further statements at this time,” a spokesperson said.

Diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa hit a new low in September after Trudeau linked India to the June 2023 murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Nijjar was shot by two masked men outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.

India vehemently denied any involvement, calling Trudeau’s allegations “absurd” and politically motivated.

The accusations led both countries to expel intelligence officers, reduce diplomatic staff, and halt trade talks.

Nijjar’s murder is being investigated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which has arrested four Indian nationals in connection with the case.

(With PTI inputs)