Tawqeer Hussain
A longstanding diplomatic dispute between India and Canada has reached new heights as both countries expel diplomats amidst serious allegations. The conflict reignited on Monday when India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that it had received“diplomatic communication” from Canada indicating that Indian diplomats were being considered “persons of interest” concerning an investigation.
Soon after this, India’s Ministry of External Affairs withdrew the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials. They summoned the Canadian Charge d’Affaires and informed him of the decision to withdraw the Indian diplomats from Canada.
“It was underlined that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government’s actions endangered their safety. We have no faith in the current Canadian Government’s commitment to ensure their security. Therefore, the Government of India has decided to withdraw the High Commissioner and other targeted diplomats and officials,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Later on Monday night, MEA announced that it was expelling six Canadian diplomats from India, including the acting high commissioner, and was giving them until the end of the day on October 19 to leave India.
The discord between India and Canada traces back to last year when the Canadian government revealed it was investigating potential links between Indian government operatives and the murder of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia. India has vehemently denied involvement, describing Canada’s assertions as “preposterous” and a politically motivated smear campaign.
In a dramatic escalation on Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had uncovered “clear and compelling evidence” linking Indian agents to various threats, including violent acts and information-gathering operations against South Asian Canadians. Trudeau emphasized the need for accountability, noting that this evidence was directly shared with Indian officials, urging cooperation in addressing the alleged violence.
As tensions mount, the future of India-Canada relations remains uncertain as both nations brace for possible further actions.
