Canada updates advisory for citizens travelling to India, urges 'high degree of caution'

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (File image)

Canada has issued a travel advisory for its citizens who are travelling to India stating, "Exercise high degree of caution". "Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," says Canada in its updated travel advisory for India.

"Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," says Canada in its… pic.twitter.com/AxV7aZ18q3

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— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023

The Canadian government's travel advisory update comes a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of "agents of the Indian government" in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey in June.

"Over the past number of weeks, Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Trudeau said on September 18 in a speech to the House of Commons.

India rejected the claims as "absurd" and "motivated". "Allegations of the Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the MEA said in a statement.

And, a day later, on September 19, Trudeau said he wasn't trying to "provoke" India or "escalate" tensions; rather, he wanted New Delhi to take the murder of the Sikh separatist leader with the "utmost seriousness".

Trudeau said, "The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate, we are simply laying out the facts as we understand them and we want to work with the government of India. It is extremely serious, and it has far-reaching consequences in international law... We're going to remain calm. We are going to remain grounded in our democratic principles and values. We are going to follow the evidence and make sure, the work is done to a whole people."

#WATCH | Ottawa: Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau says, "The government of India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that, we are not looking to provoke or escalate, we are simply laying out the facts as we understand them and we want to… pic.twitter.com/NyJbdxVJm6

— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023

And, Canada and India have expelled a senior diplomat each today. After Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly confirmed that she has ordered the expulsion of "a senior Indian diplomat", India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also asked a Canadian diplomat to leave India within the next five days.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most-wanted terrorists, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on June 18.

Canadian police have not arrested anyone in connection with Nijjar's killing. Last month, police released a statement saying they were investigating three suspects.

Canada-based Nijjar was designated a 'terrorist' by India under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in July 2020 and his property in the country was attached by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2020.

(With Agency inputs)