MEA evaluates security issues behind visa service suspension in Canada

Invoked diplomatic parity due to concerns over interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel: EAM Jaishankar

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is assessing the security situation that led to the suspension of visa services by the Indian embassy and Consulates in Canada, news agency ANI reported citing sources. This action comes in light of the recent statement made by the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar who said the relationship between India and Canada right now is going through a difficult phase.

"The relationship right now is going through a difficult phase. But I do want to say that the problems we have are with a certain segment of Canadian politics and the policies which flow from that," Jaishankar said at an event on October 22 while replying to a question on India-Canada ties.

India is looking at resuming visa services for Canadians "very soon" if it sees progress in the safety of its diplomats in Canada, Jaishankar said.

"If we see progress there, I would very much like to resume the issue of visas. My hope would be that it would be something which should happen very very soon." "Some weeks ago, we stopped issuing visas in Canada because it was no longer safe for our diplomats to go to work to issue visas. So their safety and security was the primary reason we had to temporarily stop the issuance of visas," he added.

"My expectation is that the situation would improve in the sense that our people would have greater confidence in being able to do their basic duty as diplomats because as you know, ensuring the safety and security of diplomats is the most fundamental aspect of the Vienna Convention," Jaishankar said. "And right now, that is what has in many ways been challenged in Canada that our people are not safe, our diplomats are not safe," he said.

In comments that came days after Ottawa pulled out 41 of its diplomats from India, Jaishankar said New Delhi insisted on having diplomatic parity as it had concerns about the "continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel". "We have not made much of that public. My sense is that over a period of time, more stuff will come out and people will understand why we had the kind of discomfort with many of them which we did," he said.

Tensions between India and Canada escalated following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations last month, suggesting a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India has dismissed Canada's concerns regarding India's involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot in June in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb.

Shortly after Trudeau's accusations, India took the step of temporarily suspending the issuance of visas to Canadian citizens and requested Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in the country. Canada has since withdrawn 41 of its diplomats from India in response to its claims of India's threat to strip them of their diplomatic immunity.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, in the announcement of the diplomats' return from India, characterized New Delhi's actions as being "contrary to international law" and in violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. India, however, has already refuted these claims. On downsizing Canada's diplomatic presence in India, he said diplomatic parity is very much provided for in the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

Jaishankar said "it is very much provided for by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international rule on this".

"There is this whole issue of parity that ... how many diplomats are there of one country versus how many diplomats are there of the other country. Parity is very much provided for by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international rule on this," he said. "But in our case, we invoked parity because we had concerns about the continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel," the minister said.

"Parity is very much provided for by the Vienna Convention, which is the relevant international rule on this. In our case, we invoked parity because we had concerns about continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel," Jaishankar said on October 22.

Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Joly, had affirmed that India has communicated its intention to withdraw diplomatic immunity from all but 21 of Canada's diplomats and dependent personnel in Delhi.

Canada now has 21 diplomats in India. The 41 who left were accompanied by 42 dependents.

With Canada withdrawing 41 of its diplomats from India, consultants and agents in Punjab apprehend delay in processing of visa applications for that country. Prospective students from Punjab may bear the brunt because of the likely delay in visa, they fear.  Canada is the most sought-after nation among the youth from Punjab for studying in various universities there.

Canada will be pausing all in-person services at the consulates in Chandigarh, Mumbai and Bengaluru and is now directing all Canadians in India to the High Commission in New Delhi.

Approximately 2 million Canadians, or approximately 5% of the total population, are of Indian descent. India is Canada's most significant source of international students, accounting for approximately 40% of all study permit holders.