- India seeks Canada’s diplomatic reduction
- Dispute over Sikh separatist
- US-India relations affected
India formally confirmed on Thursday its demand for a further reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence in response to reports that New Delhi had instructed the repatriation of dozens of foreign service officers due to a dispute over the assassination of a Sikh separatist.
Two weeks ago, when Canada suggested the possibility of Indian government involvement in the June assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver, relations between Delhi and Ottawa deteriorated.
The fallout resulted in reciprocal diplomatic expulsions and a strong denial from India, dismissing as “absurd” any notion of its involvement in Nijjar’s murder.
Arindam Bagchi, principal spokesman for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declined to confirm a Financial Times report this week that Canada had been instructed to return 41 of its 62 diplomats by October 10. However, he stated that India “expects a reduction” in Canada’s presence in response to Ottawa’s request to match the number of diplomats stationed in New Delhi.
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“We have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence, considering the significantly larger number of Canadian diplomats stationed here and their continuous interference in our internal affairs,” he explained to reporters during a routine news briefing.
India has also temporarily suspended visa applications to Canada and advised its citizens against traveling to certain Canadian regions.
On Tuesday, Justin Trudeau called the situation “extremely difficult” and said the government was preventing further escalation.
The situation has complicated U.S. government efforts towards India, despite improving relations between the two nations in recent years.
Washington views New Delhi as a crucial ally in the Asia-Pacific region’s efforts to counter Chinese influence. Both countries are part of the Quad, along with Australia and Japan.
According to American news organization Politico, Washington’s ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, has cautioned that relations with Indian officials “may temporarily deteriorate” and might require reduced communication.
However, a spokesperson for the United States embassy in New Delhi denied these rumors, stating, “Ambassador Garcetti works diligently every day to strengthen the partnership between the governments and peoples of the United States and India.”
