Our High Commission, consulates in India operational; ‘temporarily’ adjusting diplomatic staff presence: Canada

“As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India. All of our locations are staffed by diplomats and locally-engaged staff to ensure business and operational continuity,” the statement read. Citing the Vienna Convention, the High Commission further called on India to “provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here.”

The India-Canada diplomatic relationship has been precarious ever since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of the Indian government in the killing of Khalistan separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada earlier this year. India on Tuesday expelled a senior Canadian diplomat — an action similar to what Canada did on Monday.

As the situation continued to worsen, India on Thursday announced it was suspending visa services in Canada. The announcement was made on the website of the visa facility website of the Indian High Commission in Canada.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said in its travel advisory all Indian nationals in Canada and those looking to travel there must “exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant” “in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in that country.