India's new top envoy to be sworn in today as signs emerge of a thaw in relations

Indian's new high commissioner to Canada is being sworn in this afternoon at Rideau Hall, following a series of high-level visits by Canadian officials.

Along with other new envoys, Dinesh Patnaik is set to visit Gov. Gen. Mary Simon today to present his credentials, marking the official start of his term.

Relations between Canada and India have been strained since Canadian police accused New Delhi of playing a role in the June 2023 assassination of a Sikh activist near Vancouver.

The chill began to lift slightly in June when Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta and both countries agreed to restore their top diplomats.

This month, Canada's national security adviser met with her Indian counterpart in New Delhi, where Canada's top foreign service bureaucrat also met with Indian officials.

Vina Nadjibulla of the Asia Pacific Foundation says the visits represent a gradual effort to put an important bilateral relationship back on track while addressing concerns about transnational repression.