- India demanded parity in diplomatic staffing, effectively forcing Ottawa to reduce its staff in India.
- The Canadian government claims there are “credible allegations” that the Indian government orchestrated the extrajudicial killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
- Canada can only provide in-person consular services at its High Commission in New Delhi.
On September 19, 2023, heavy security measures were deployed at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, India.
Hindustan Times | Hindustan Times | Getty Images
Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats and their families from India after New Delhi threatened to lift their diplomatic immunity if Ottawa did not meet demands for parity in diplomatic staffing.
“Canada confirms that India has formally communicated its plan to unilaterally waive the immunity of all but 21 Canadian diplomats and dependents in New Delhi by October 20, 2023,” Canada’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
The move effectively reduced the number of Canadian diplomats in India – the largest source of new migrants – by about two-thirds. As a result, Canada must temporarily suspend in-person services at consulates in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai, leaving its high commission in New Delhi the only place in India where it can offer services in a country that has been its largest source of new migrants .
India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment after business hours.
Tensions between the two countries escalated in September when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed there were “credible allegations” that the Indian government had orchestrated the extrajudicial killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada.
After mutual diplomatic expulsions last month, India issued a travel warning for its citizens, suspended visa applications in Canada and called for parity in diplomatic staffing, meaning Ottawa had to cut the number of staff in India.
“Unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities violates international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. This action taken by India is completely unreasonable and escalatory,” it added.
“Diplomatic immunities should be respected and cannot be unilaterally revoked by a host country. If we allow this norm to be broken, no diplomat anywhere would be safe,” Canada said.
“Therefore, the Government of Canada will continue to respect diplomatic norms and will not reciprocate this action.”