India Suspends Visa Services For Canadians Amid Diplomatic Row

In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic tensions between India and Canada , visa services for Canadian nationals have been indefinitely suspended by India. This move comes in the wake of a bitter spat between the two countries, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's allegations of Indian involvement in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar .

The suspension of Indian visa services for Canadians was not formally announced but was confirmed through a message posted on the website of BLS International , the agency responsible for running Indian visa application centers in Canada. The message read, "Important notice from the Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21st September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice."

This suspension marks the first time that India has halted visa services since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the Indian high commission's website became inaccessible late on Wednesday, an Indian official, when reached for comment, simply stated, "The language is clear, and it says what it is intended to say."

The ongoing diplomatic crisis has its roots in Prime Minister Trudeau's assertion that Indian agents may have been involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , who was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia . Nijjar was a prominent figure associated with the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice ( SFJ ). SFJ has accused India of orchestrating his assassination.

In response to Trudeau's allegations, India promptly rejected the charges as "absurd and motivated." This exchange led to a tit-for-tat expulsion of senior diplomats from both countries earlier this week.

Adding to the diplomatic turmoil, Canada's foreign ministry revealed that some of its diplomats in India had received threats on social media platforms. As a result, the ministry has decided to temporarily adjust its staff presence in India to ensure the safety of its personnel. A spokesperson for Canada's foreign ministry stated, "All of our locations are staffed by diplomats and locally engaged staff to ensure business and operational continuity."

In a related development, India issued an advisory on Wednesday, urging its citizens in Canada to exercise "utmost caution" due to growing anti-India activities and "politically-condoned hate crimes." Indian students, in particular, were advised to remain vigilant during their stay in Canada.

However, Canada swiftly rejected the travel advisory. Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized that Canada is a safe country and encouraged people to interpret the advisory accordingly. The dispute between India and Canada continues to unfold, raising concerns about the future of bilateral relations and diplomatic cooperation between the two nations.