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India names High Commissioner to Canada
The MEA said he will assume his role in Ottawa shortly.
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Bhavana P - Thu, 28, Aug 2025
- 12:35 EDT
- 24
Dinesh K. Patnaik / X/ DineshKPatnaik
India on Aug. 28 appointed seasoned diplomat Dinesh K. Patnaik as the next High Commissioner to Canada, in a move seen as a significant step towards repairing strained bilateral relations.
The announcement came alongside Canada’s decision to name Christopher Cooter as its envoy to New Delhi.
Patnaik, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is currently serving as India’s ambassador to Spain. He has previously held key diplomatic assignments in Cambodia, Morocco, and Geneva. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said he is expected to assume his post in Ottawa shortly.
The reciprocal appointments follow more than two years of tense relations triggered by the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Relations plunged after then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged possible Indian involvement in the killing, a claim strongly rejected by New Delhi. The standoff escalated with both sides expelling diplomats, leading to a freeze in consular services and trade discussions.
Ties began to thaw after Liberal Party leader Mark Carney assumed office as Canada’s prime minister in April. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, where the leaders agreed to take “constructive steps” to restore stability, including the early return of envoys.
Cooter, a veteran diplomat with 35 years of experience, most recently served as Canada’s chargé d’affaires to Israel. He has also been high commissioner to South Africa and several other African nations. Notably, he served as first secretary at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi from 1998 to 2000.
Both governments emphasized that restoring diplomatic presence is critical to supporting citizens, businesses, and future cooperation.
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