New Delhi: Reacting strongly to reports of growing Khalistani threats to Indian diplomatic missions in Canada, including the Consulate in Vancouver, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in September asserted that security is the responsibility of the Canadian government.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing: “It is the responsibility of the Canadian government, or any host government, to provide security to our diplomatic establishments. Whenever there is a concern, we take it up with the concerned side, in this case Canada, to ensure adequate security.”

The statement followed bilateral security consultations held a day earlier between the National Security Advisors of both nations. The discussions also built on talks between PM Modi and Canadian PM Carney at the G7 Summit in Alberta, where they agreed to restore High Commissioners to each other’s capitals.

The two sides further resolved to revive senior-level mechanisms across trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties. Last month, India appointed Dinesh K Patnaik as its next High Commissioner to Ottawa, filling a post vacant for over 10 months since the withdrawal of Sanjay Kumar Verma in October 2014 over Canada’s “hostility.”

Ties had soured after former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau alleged “credible” Indian involvement in Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing — charges India dismissed as “absurd” and “motivated.” New Delhi accused Ottawa of harbouring extremist anti-India elements.