India Suspends Canadian Visas Amid Diplomatic Dispute

 

Canadian High-Commision in New Delhi

Visa Suspension and Diplomatic Drama: India and Canada's Deepening Conflict

On Thursday, India took a significant step in its escalating dispute with Canada, suspending new visas for Canadians and urging Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. This dispute stems from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations linking New Delhi to the murder of a Sikh separatist.

The Indian foreign ministry expressed its disappointment with Canada for not sharing specific information related to Trudeau's allegations. However, India stated its willingness to consider the information if it were provided. This suspension of new visas for a Western country is an unprecedented move and represents a low point in India-Canada relations.

The announcement followed Canada's high commission in India revealing that it would temporarily adjust its staff presence due to threats received by diplomats on social media platforms. However, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi clarified that India's request for Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic mission staff in India aimed to achieve parity between the two countries.

Bagchi cited "security threats" to Indian staff in its Canadian consulates as the reason behind suspending the issuance of new visas to Canadian citizens. Nevertheless, India has not provided concrete evidence or details regarding the nature of these security threats. In response, Canada's public safety minister, Dominic LeBlanc, asserted that Canada is indeed a safe country.

Bagchi stated during a press briefing that the security threats had disrupted the normal functioning of their high commission and consulates, leading to the temporary inability to process visa applications. He added that they would continually review the security situation.

Canada has been one of the top sources of foreign tourists for India, with 350,000 visitors in 2019, though this number decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tensions between the two countries flared up after Trudeau's comments on Monday, where he mentioned investigating "credible allegations" regarding the potential involvement of Indian government agents in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. In response, India's government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, vehemently denied any connections to the alleged murder.

Canadian officials have not disclosed why they believe India may be linked to Nijjar's murder. This dispute has resulted in the expulsion of senior diplomats from both nations and reciprocal travel advisories.

India expressed its readiness to examine any specific information provided by Canada but stated that they had not yet received such information. Canada has discussed the matter with key allies, including members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing alliance.

When questioned about the impact of the dispute on India's global standing, Bagchi suggested that Canada should be concerned about its reputation as a potential safe haven for terrorists, extremists, and organized crime, rather than India.

This ongoing row also poses a threat to trade ties, with discussions on a proposed trade deal frozen last week. Canada has a significant Sikh population, and India has long been concerned about Sikh separatist activity in Canada. Despite the decline of support for the insurgency in India, small groups of Sikhs in various countries continue to support the separatist demand for an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.

The dispute also has implications for trade, with estimates suggesting that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Canada and India could boost two-way trade by as much as $6.5 billion.

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