Title: India Downsizes Canadian Diplomatic Presence due to Interference Concerns
India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has accused Canadian personnel of interfering in New Delhi’s affairs, leading to a downsizing of Canadian diplomatic presence in India. In response, Canada has already withdrawn 41 diplomats from the country, further intensifying the diplomatic tension between the two nations.
Jaishankar cited the Vienna Convention, invoking parity to justify India’s actions, as continuous interference by Canadian personnel has been a cause for concern. The Minister hinted that more information would be revealed over time to explain India’s discomfort with specific Canadian individuals.
The dispute between the two countries began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented that India’s crackdown on Canadian diplomats was affecting the lives of millions of people in both nations. However, Jaishankar clarified that India’s issues were limited to a particular segment of Canadian politics and the policies derived from it.
A significant factor contributing to the strained relations between India and Canada is the presence of a large Sikh community in Canada. Trudeau had previously suggested that Indian agents might have been involved in the murder of a Sikh terrorist in Canada, an allegation that India vehemently denies. As countermeasures, India has suspended visa services for Canadians.
While Canada has called for India’s cooperation in the investigation, it has not provided any public evidence to support its claims about the killing. The visa issue has become a major concern for both countries, with India temporarily halting the issuance of visas in Canada due to safety concerns for its diplomats.
India places utmost importance on the safety and security of its diplomats, as outlined in the Vienna Convention. The current situation challenges this aspect in Canada, prompting doubts about the safety of Indian diplomats.
However, Jaishankar expressed a willingness to resume the issuance of visas if progress is made in addressing the safety concerns. Both nations now face the challenge of rebuilding trust and finding a way to resolve the ongoing diplomatic tensions.
As this dispute continues to unfold, the global community awaits further developments that could impact the diplomatic relations between India and Canada.
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