National Security Adviser Ajit Doval concluded a two-day visit to Canada on February 7, holding high-level meetings in Ottawa that focused on strengthening cooperation on national security, law enforcement and cybersecurity.
The discussions conveyed a clear reassurance that violent extremist groups do not enjoy the support of the Government of Canada.
According to official statements issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Canada’s Privy Council Office, the visit was part of the regular India–Canada bilateral security dialogue and aimed at advancing practical cooperation on issues affecting the safety and security of both countries and their citizens.
The February 7 discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation amid efforts by both sides to stabilise ties strained in recent years by concerns over Khalistani extremist activities and allegations of foreign interference.
During the visit, Doval met Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, on February 7. He also held separate discussions with Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Minister for Public Safety, on February 6.
Both sides said the meetings reviewed progress made on existing initiatives and agreed on steps to deepen cooperation across priority areas. A key outcome was agreement on a shared workplan to guide bilateral engagement on national security and law-enforcement issues, intended to enable more structured and results-orientated collaboration between agencies.
One of the most significant decisions announced during the visit was that India and Canada will establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers in each other’s countries.
The MEA said this step would streamline bilateral communications and enable timely information sharing on matters of mutual concern. Canada’s official readout described the decision as an important move to build on existing working relationships between relevant authorities.
Officials on both sides said the liaison framework would support cooperation on transnational challenges, including organised criminal networks and the illegal flow of drugs.
Both governments specifically identified narcotics trafficking—particularly fentanyl precursors—as an area requiring closer coordination and intelligence exchange.
Cybersecurity was another focus of the discussions. India and Canada committed to formalising cooperation on cybersecurity policy and to sharing information related to cyber threats. The two sides also agreed to continue discussions on cooperation in areas such as fraud and immigration enforcement, in line with domestic laws and international obligations.
Officials familiar with the discussions said concerns related to Khalistani-linked extremist groups were also raised during the security dialogue, particularly in the context of organised crime, narcotics trafficking and extremist activity targeting India.
The emphasis, they said, was on addressing such networks strictly through law enforcement and public safety mechanisms, reinforcing the position that violent extremist activity falls within the remit of security agencies and does not enjoy political or institutional support in Canada.
Doval’s meeting with Canada’s Minister for Public Safety further underscored this approach. Officials said the engagement reflected Ottawa’s readiness to treat violent extremism directed at India from abroad as a public-safety concern rather than a diplomatic irritant, aligning counter-extremism efforts with law-enforcement cooperation.
The visit comes ahead of a likely trip to India by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the first week of March. According to India’s High Commissioner to Canada Dinesh Patnaik, Carney is expected to travel to New Delhi to sign agreements covering uranium, energy, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
Officials on both sides have described Doval’s Ottawa meetings as part of a broader effort to stabilise bilateral ties through sustained security engagement.
Taken together, the discussions delivered a clear and deliberate message: violent extremist networks, including those targeting India from abroad, have no backing from the Canadian state and will be addressed through law enforcement and security frameworks.
