India, Canada NSAs met ahead of Trudeau’s visit
India’s concerns over rising Sikh radicalism in Canada are understood to have figured during a meeting between National Security Advisors of the two countries this week, and the issue may figure during Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s talks with Indian leadership here.
Trudeau is beginning a seven-day India visit here on Saturday to boost bilateral ties, with a focus on enhancing defence and counter-terror cooperation.
In response to a question on whether India will take up the issue of rising pro-Khalistan radicalism in Canada during Trudeau’s visit, the external affairs ministry indicated that it might be raised. Canadian diplomatic sources, while talking about the meeting held between the two NSAs here a couple of days ago to prepare the ground for Trudeau’s visit, indicated that New Delhi’s concerns over Sikh radicalism in Canada figured in the meeting.
“This is an important visit. All issues, which are of interest to us... which are of bilateral interests will be up on the agenda,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, when asked whether the issue will be taken up by India during Trudeau’s visit.
On trade, the sources said Canadian investments in India were likely to decline in the absence of a mechanism to protect them and Trudeau and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may deliberate, during their talks on February 23, on making forward movement in firming up the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the two countries.
The negotiators of both the countries met last week to overcome the hurdles in finalising the pact, the sources said, adding Canadian investments in India were around $15 billion in the last couple of years, and a free trade pact will further encourage investors from that country.
In 2017, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and India amounted to $8.4 billion, split equally between exports to and imports from India ($4 billion each).
A number of Canadian pension funds are also keen to invest in India.
The sources said the objective of the Canadian prime minister’s visit here would be to expand ties between the two countries with a focus on defence and security, counterterror cooperation, trade and investment and tackling climate change. Both sides are also expected to deliberate on enhancing cooperation in the civil nuclear sector.
A number of Trudeau’s cabinet colleagues, including Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, Science and Sports Minister Kirsty Duncan and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi, are also visiting India. Officials said Trudeau’s visit to Gujarat will be first by a Canadian prime minister.