Diplomatic fallout? India withdraws Canadian envoy, downgrades ties amid ongoing dispute

New Delhi: India has officially withdrawn its High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, along with other senior diplomats, as diplomatic tensions escalate between the two nations. This decision follows Canada’s designation of the Indian High Commissioner and other officials as 'persons of interest' in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Concerns for diplomatic safety

In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the environment of extremism and violence in Canada has raised serious concerns about the safety of its diplomats. “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,” the statement noted.

Earlier, Stewart Wheeler, the Canadian Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi, was summoned to address the issue. The Indian government expressed its discontent regarding the unfounded targeting of its diplomats, asserting that it is completely unacceptable. The MEA also warned that India retains the right to take further action against the Trudeau administration’s perceived support for extremism and separatism.

Canada’s response

Following these developments, Wheeler reiterated Canada’s position, stating that the country possesses credible evidence linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Canadian citizen. “It is time for India to live up to what it said it would do and look into all those allegations,” he remarked. He further emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries to resolve these serious issues.

The diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Ottawa have significantly deteriorated since September last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in Nijjar's killing on Canadian soil. India has consistently refuted these allegations as “motivated and absurd,” calling for a more constructive dialogue between the nations.