National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie G. Drouin, met to exchange views on deepening bilateral cooperation in important areas like counterterrorism, combating transnational organised crime, and intelligence sharing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Saturday.
The two met on Thursday, September 18, in New Delhi as part of the regular bilateral security talks between India and Canada.
The MEA said that the talks also offered a chance to pursue follow-ups on deliberations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, early this year.
"Both sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership. They had productive discussions on advancing the bilateral relationship, including in areas such as counterterrorism, combating transnational organised crime and Intelligence exchanges," the MEA said.
The two sides welcomed the decision to follow a cooperative approach for the future and join hands to bring about a new era in bilateral relations.
"They agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement. The two NSAs also deliberated on the priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments," the MEA statement read.
Earlier on Friday, the MEA had responded strongly to reports of increasing Khalistani attacks on Indian diplomatic offices in Canada, including the Indian Consulate in Vancouver, reiterating that security is the responsibility of the Canadian government.
"It is the responsibility of the Canadian government or the host government wherever we are, wherever we have diplomatic establishments to provide security as and when there is a concern, we do take it up with the concerned side, in this case, Canada, to ensure that there is adequate security of our diplomatic premises," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi while responding to a question on the threats being issued to the Indian Consulates in Canada.
Jaiswal also clarified that the talks at the NSA level were part of the continuing bilateral security consultations between New Delhi and Ottawa.
"The NSA of Canada held talks with our National Security Advisor, I think it happened yesterday, the 18th. This is part of the regular bilateral security consultations that happen between the two countries. It was also an opportunity and an occasion for them to follow up on the discussions that happened between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Carney in Kananaskis on the sidelines of the G7 in Alberta, Canada," stated Jaiswal.
On the margin of the G7 Summit, PM Modi and Carney had talks in an attempt to revive the tense relations between the two countries. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri referred to the June 18 meeting as "very positive and constructive." As an initial move, both leaders assented to revive High Commissioners to one another's capitals at an early date.
Moreover, the two nations committed to reviving senior and working-level mechanisms in diverse sectors. They also decided to reinstate dialogue on trade, people-to-people exchanges, and connectivity with a view to enhance momentum in bilateral relations.
India-Canada relations had soured after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had accused, in the Canadian Parliament, that he had "credible allegations" of the involvement of India in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
A serious diplomatic controversy ensued when Canada named India's High Commissioner and other diplomats as "persons of interest" during the probe of Nijjar's killing.
India dismissed all allegations, describing them as "motivated" and "absurd," and charged Ottawa with giving a platform to extremist and anti-India elements within the nation.
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