New Delhi/IBNS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed hope that with Prime Minister Narendra Modi back for a third term, talks with India can resume on "some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe and the rule of law".

These issues that had caused friction between the two nations last year.

In an interview with CBC News Tuesday, Trudeau said: "There's alignment on a number of big issues that we need to work on, as democracies as a global community."

"But now that he (Modi) is through his election, I think there is an opportunity for us to engage, including on some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe and the rule of law that we will be engaging," he added.

Justin Trudeau's remarks came after he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy last week.

PM Modi's meeting with his Canadian counterpart took place amid strained ties after the country's authorities alleged India's involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

The two leaders earlier met at the G20 Summit hosted by India in September last year.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was wanted in India on various terror charges, was shot dead outside a Gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023.

Canada's charge against India sparked a massive row with both countries expelling diplomats of the other country.

Three Indians were arrested in Canada in May in connection with Nijjar's murder. India has said there are "political interests at work" in the matter and reiterated its position that separatists and extremists have been given political space in the country.