• Canada and India have appointed new high commissioners, signaling improving ties.
• The appointments are part of efforts to restore relations strained by the murder of a Sikh separatist leader.
• Former PM Trudeau's accusations against India led to the expulsion of several diplomats from both countries.
• New high commissioners are Christopher Cooter for Canada and Dinesh K Patnaik for India.
• This diplomatic move follows a bilateral meeting between the leaders of both nations in June.

Canada and India have officially announced the appointment of new high commissioners to each other's countries, marking a significant step in restoring their diplomatic relations, which had deteriorated following the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June 2023. The previous high commissioner of India left Canada in October, with six diplomats expelled by Ottawa due to their alleged involvement in Nijjar's murder, while India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats, including the acting high commissioner, according to Dawn, Reuters, and BBC.

At their first bilateral meeting in June, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on the need to reinstate high-level diplomats. Canada's Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, stated that the appointment of veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter as the new high commissioner reflects a "step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India." India's foreign ministry confirmed the appointment of Dinesh K Patnaik, expected to take up his position shortly, according to Dawn and Reuters.

The backdrop to these diplomatic changes includes accusations by former Prime Minister Trudeau, who mentioned "credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to Nijjar's death. India dismissed these claims as "absurd," indicating a challenging climate for relations. The renewed appointments aim to mend the rift, with Canada being a key market for India and hosting the largest Sikh diaspora outside Punjab, according to BBC and Reuters.