India is expected to appoint senior diplomat Dinesh K Patnaik as its next High Commissioner to Canada, signaling a renewed push to improve diplomatic relations between the two countries. Patnaik, currently serving as India’s ambassador to Spain, is in the process of securing the formal agreement from Canada, sources familiar with the matter said. The move follows recent discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, where both leaders agreed to take steps toward resetting bilateral ties.

Patnaik, a 1990-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, brings extensive diplomatic experience, including prior roles in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna. Notably, he served as Deputy High Commissioner to the UK from 2016 to 2018, during which he handled sensitive diaspora-related issues, including the Khalistan movement, an issue that remains a concern in Indo-Canadian relations. His appointment is seen as a strategic move by New Delhi, particularly in light of the 2023 diplomatic tensions that arose following the killing of a Khalistani separatist in Canada.

Jayant Khobragade, currently India’s ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is expected to succeed Patnaik in Spain. Khobragade, from the 1995 IFS batch, has previously served in Indian missions in Spain, Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan. He also held a key role in the Department of Atomic Energy. His originally planned posting to Poland was cancelled, and he has since continued to serve in Jakarta. The reshuffle of key diplomatic positions marks a broader effort by India to recalibrate foreign policy engagements with key international partners, especially in light of evolving geopolitical and diaspora-related challenges.