Christopher Cooter, Dinesh Patnaik Named High Commissioners as India–Canada Look to Mend Fences
Canada and India have moved to restore their strained relations with the mutual appointment of high commissioners, which ends nearly a year of deep freeze triggered by explosive allegations of state-sponsored violence.
On August 29, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand named veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter as Canada’s new high commissioner to India. Simultaneously, India announced the appointment of Ambassador Dinesh K. Patnaik as its next envoy to Ottawa.
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| Image Source: Canada FM Anita Anand on X |
India, on its part, had strongly denied the claim, calling it “absurd and politically motivated.”
Both nations expelled senior diplomats in the immediate aftermath. Canada asked six Indian officials to leave, while India responded by expelling Canada's high commissioner and six Canadian diplomats.
Visa services were suspended, consulates were shuttered, and travel advisories were updated, as the diplomatic dispute widened into a full-fledged standoff.
Christopher Cooter brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served in India from 1998 to 2000. He was most recently posted in Israel as Canada’s chargé d'affaires and has also served as high commissioner to South Africa and several African nations.
His counterpart, Dinesh K. Patnaik, currently India’s ambassador to Spain, has held key assignments in Europe and Asia and is expected to assume charge in Ottawa shortly.
Canada’s move comes amid efforts by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration to recalibrate ties with New Delhi, recognizing India’s economic weight, growing geopolitical influence, and the significant Indian diaspora in Canada.
With over 770,000 Sikhs, Canada hosts the largest Sikh population outside of India.
This demographic has been central to the ongoing controversy, particularly due to the presence of Khalistan movement supporters--advocates for an independent Sikh homeland--whom India views as a direct threat to its sovereignty.
In June 2023, Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, B.C., sparking widespread outrage among Canadian Sikh communities.
Months later, Trudeau stood in the House of Commons and declared that Canadian security agencies were actively pursuing credible links between Indian agents and the killing.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police later alleged that multiple suspects with alleged ties to Indian intelligence had been arrested and indicated that further individuals had been placed under watch for potential threats.
India rejected the allegations, demanding evidence and asserting that Canada had ignored repeated warnings about anti-India elements operating freely on its soil.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi had accused Ottawa of providing a haven for separatist extremists and blamed the Carney government for allowing diplomatic ties to deteriorate.
Over the past year, mutual accusations had expanded to include charges of interference, intimidation, and information gathering.
Canadian intelligence reports even warned that India continued to conduct influence operations within ethnic, religious, and political spheres in Canada.
Meanwhile, expelled Indian diplomats alleged that pro-Khalistan sympathizers had infiltrated Canadian political institutions and law enforcement.
Despite the tension, signs of a diplomatic reset began emerging earlier this year. A brief meeting between Prime Ministers Modi and Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy was widely interpreted as a signal of detente.
The restoration of high commissioners now confirms that both sides are now attempting to stabilize the relationship.
However, the move has not been without domestic backlash. Advocacy groups such as the Sikh Federation of Canada have criticized the decision to reengage without any public indication of accountability or concessions from India.
They argue that geopolitical interests are being prioritized over justice and national security.
India has maintained that any investigation or dialogue must be grounded in evidence and mutual respect. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has stated on at least one occasion that New Delhi would consider credible information if provided but accused Canadian authorities of politicizing unproven accusations.
Bilateral trade negotiations, paused in 2023, could also resume as part of the renewed engagement. Both countries have expressed interest in re-establishing visa services and restoring people-to-people ties that have suffered during the diplomatic impasse.