India to resume visa services for Canadians

1 year ago 19
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The front gate of High Commission of India is pictured on October 3, 2023 in Ottawa, Canada. Canada sought Tuesday to maintain its full diplomatic presence in India, after New Delhi reportedly ordered Ottawa to withdraw 40 diplomats in a dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist.Image source, Getty Images

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Relations between Canada and India reached historic lows after the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

By Nadine Yousif

BBC News, Toronto

India will resume visa services for Canadians after they ceased in a major diplomatic row in September, India's High Commission in Ottawa says.

At the time, India said the move was due to "security threats" disrupting work at its Canadian missions.

But the suspension came amid a serious dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil.

Ottawa accused India of being behind the killing - an allegation New Delhi has called "absurd."

On Wednesday, officials said they will resume issuing some visas after reviewing the security situation at their missions, and in light of recent Canadian measures which they did not name.

Services will reportedly resume on Thursday, and will apply to entry visas, as well as business, medical and conference visas.

Relations between India and Canada reached historic lows after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the country of being behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader that was shot and killed in Surrey, British Columbia, in June.

Police at the time described it as a "targeted killing", but no suspects have yet been identified.

Mr Trudeau has urged for India's cooperation into the ongoing murder investigation, while stressing that Canada is not looking to escalate the rift with India.

Canada recently withdrew dozens of its diplomats from India, after the country threatened to remove diplomatic immunity for them.

India has said Canada had many more diplomats in Delhi than India has in Ottawa, and has demanded parity ever since the row between the two countries erupted.

Twenty-one Canadian diplomats remain in India.

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