In a surprising turn of events, Canada has taken a bold step in the ongoing diplomatic rift with India by withdrawing 41 diplomats and their 42 family members from the country. The decision comes after a dispute over diplomatic immunities and allegations of interference, further deepening the tensions between the two nations.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly made the official announcement, revealing that India had signaled its intention to revoke diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and their dependents in Delhi. This unilateral move posed a significant risk to the personal safety of 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependents.
Canada Modifications in India
In response to this development, Canada facilitated the safe departure of its diplomats from India. However, this withdrawal will have repercussions on the services provided by Canadian consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
These consulates will temporarily halt all in-person services, leaving the Canadian High Commission in Delhi as the sole point of contact for Canadians seeking consular assistance.
The roots of this diplomatic feud can be traced back to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations regarding the potential involvement of Indian agents in the assassination of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020 and vehemently rejected these allegations as absurd and politically motivated.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need for both governments to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve their differences. Beyond the specific issue of Nijjar’s killing, India has expressed concerns about Canada’s perceived permissiveness towards terrorism, extremism, and violence.
One of the most significant consequences of this diplomatic standoff is the potential slowdown of Indian visa applications for Canada. A considerable portion of these applications comes from Indian students aspiring to study in Canadian universities. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), responsible for processing visas, is reducing its workforce in India from 27 employees to just five.
While the IRCC will continue to accept and process applications from India, the reduced staffing levels are expected to lead to delays in processing times, responses to inquiries, and the return of passports.
Last month, India called for a reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in the country to achieve diplomatic parity. Currently, Canada maintains a larger diplomatic presence in India compared to India’s presence in Canada. India has approximately 20 diplomats in Canada, while Canada has nearly three times that number, with about 60 diplomats in India.
The Ministry of External Affairs of India has been vocal about its pursuit of diplomatic parity, emphasizing the reduction of Canadian diplomats in India due to their perceived interference in Indian internal matters. The two nations are engaged in discussions to determine the specifics of achieving this goal.
Canada has assured that the remaining IRCC staff in India will continue to manage the day-to-day operations in the country. These five IRCC staff members will focus on tasks that require an in-country presence, including urgent processing, visa issuance, risk assessment, and oversight of key partners.
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