India suspends visa services for Canadian nationals, Canada fears attacks on its diplomatic staff in India

NEW DELHI: Further escalating the heightened tensions between India and Canada, the Indian missions in that nation canceled the processing of Visa applications of Canadians indefinitely.

Around the same time, the North American country, expressing fear of attacks on its diplomats posted in India, said that it would resort to temporary adjustment of staff in its missions across India.

Those Canadian citizens who sought a Visa to enter India found the notice posted on its website that read: Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from September 21, 2023 (Thursday), Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice.” The Indian diplomatic core stationed at Ottawa confirmed the move but refused to divulge further details.

In a move that could be called a tit for tat, the Canadian Government, citing social media threats to its diplomats stationed in India, reportedly said that it was considering temporary adjustment of its staff presence in India. The Canadian Government apparently decided to engage local (Indian citizens) staff in place of its diplomats in Canadian diplomatic stations in India, fearing attacks on Canadian citizens.

The diplomatic row between the nations began after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the Indian Government’s hand in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on its sovereign land. Following the expulsion of an Indian diplomat and the naming of the diplomat as a RAW agent by the Canadian Government, India also expelled one of the diplomats stationed on a Canadian mission in India.