India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, addressed the strained relationship between India and Canada, citing concerns over interference in New Delhi’s affairs by certain Canadian personnel. He explained that the current situation has led to India invoking the provision of diplomatic parity, which aims to address the ongoing issues.
During a recent event, Jaishankar expressed, “The relationship right now is going through a difficult phase. But I do want to say the problems we have are with a certain segment of Canadian politics and the policies which flow from that.” This acknowledgment highlights that India’s concerns are specific to certain political segments within Canada.
One of the major issues affecting the relationship is the matter of visa issuance. India temporarily suspended the issuance of visas in Canada due to concerns about the safety and security of its diplomats. Jaishankar clarified that this decision was primarily driven by the need to protect the well-being of Indian diplomats working in Canada. The safety and security of diplomats are fundamental aspects of the Vienna Convention, and any compromise in this area is a cause for concern.
“We stopped issuing visas in Canada because it was no longer safe for our diplomats to go to work to issue visas. Their safety and security was the primary reason we had to temporarily stop the issue of visas,” Jaishankar explained. He also emphasized the importance of tracking the situation closely and expressed hope that the situation would improve, allowing the resumption of visa issuance in Canada.
The strained ties between India and Canada intensified following allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who suggested a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. These allegations triggered a series of diplomatic responses from both sides, including India temporarily suspending the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and requesting a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence in India.
In response to Canada’s claims of India’s actions being “contrary to international law” and in violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, India firmly rejected these accusations.
Overall, the relationship between India and Canada is facing significant challenges primarily linked to certain segments of Canadian politics and the safety and security of Indian diplomats. India’s invocation of diplomatic parity is an effort to address these concerns and ensure the well-being of its diplomatic personnel.
