Explainer: What India and Canada’s New National Security Workplan Means

India and Canada have agreed on a shared workplan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement, marking a significant step in resetting ties after a prolonged diplomatic strain. The development follows a visit by India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to Ottawa on February 7, 2026, his first since Canada accused India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023—an allegation New Delhi has strongly denied.

Why Ajit Doval’s Visit Matters

Mr. Doval’s visit is significant for two reasons:

• It signals a revival of structured security dialogue after years of diplomatic tension
• It comes ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s planned visit to India in March 2026

During the visit, Mr. Doval met Nathalie Drouin, Canada’s Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister.

What Is the Shared Workplan?

The shared workplan is a framework designed to:

• Guide cooperation on national security and law enforcement
• Enable practical, issue-based collaboration
• Improve coordination between security agencies on both sides

Rather than being a single agreement, the workplan acts as a roadmap for ongoing engagement.

What This Signals Going Forward

The agreement on a shared workplan suggests:

• A pragmatic reset in India–Canada relations
• Willingness to compartmentalize disputes while advancing cooperation
• Recognition that issues like drugs, cyber threats, and organized crime require collaboration despite political differences

While tensions linked to the Nijjar case remain unresolved, the renewed security dialogue indicates that both governments see value in rebuilding functional ties ahead of high-level political engagements.