NSA Ajit Doval meets Canadian counterpart as Delhi, Ottawa look to reset ties

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin in Ottawa. The two sides "acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens."

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met senior Canadian officials in Ottawa on February 6 and 7, with both sides agreeing on steps to deepen security cooperation, streamline information sharing and rebuild institutional links after nearly two years of diplomatic strain.

Doval met Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Adviser to the Canadian Prime Minister, on February 7 as part of a “regular bilateral security dialogue”, according to an official readout.

He also held talks with Gary Anandasangaree, Canada’s Minister for Public Safety, a day earlier.

The two sides “acknowledged the progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens” and agreed to a “shared workplan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to enable practical collaboration on respective priorities,” the statement said.

In a key step, India and Canada decided that each country would establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers. Their agencies will build on existing working relationships to “streamline bilateral communications and enable timely information sharing” on issues of mutual concern.

These include the illegal flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl precursors, and transnational organised criminal networks.