India has decided to withdraw its High Commissioner from Canada following allegations linking him and other diplomats to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The diplomatic move marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations, which have been deteriorating for months.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Canada’s Charge d'Affaires and expressed concerns about the safety of its diplomats in Canada. "We have no confidence in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensuring their security," the Indian government communicated. As a result, India has chosen to recall its High Commissioner and other officials.
This decision follows Ottawa’s investigation into the Indian High Commissioner as a "person of interest" in Nijjar's killing. The Indian government sharply criticized this, calling the claims "ludicrous" and an attempt to smear India for political gains.
India’s foreign ministry also condemned the targeting of its senior diplomats, particularly High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, describing the allegations as "preposterous." Verma, a distinguished diplomat with over 36 years of service, has held key positions in countries like Japan, Sudan, and Italy.
India accused the Canadian government of promoting an agenda of extremism, violence, and separatism against India, and expressed its frustration with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's "hostility to India." The MEA pointed out that Trudeau’s administration has included individuals openly sympathetic to a separatist agenda, further straining relations.
The latest diplomatic rift comes after previous measures by India to curb visas for Canadians and the withdrawal of diplomats from Canada. While Trudeau has remained firm on his stance regarding Nijjar's death, India has consistently raised concerns about the presence of pro-Khalistan elements operating freely on Canadian soil.
This diplomatic withdrawal follows recent meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trudeau, including brief exchanges on the sidelines of international summits, where no substantive progress was made in resolving the ongoing disputes.