Diplomatic Tensions Escalate: India Expels 41 Canadian Embassy Staff
India has taken a firm diplomatic stance by requesting 41 Canadian embassy staff in Delhi to leave the country by October 10th, amid escalating tensions between the two nations. The decision is a response to New Delhi’s claim that Canada has exceeded the allowed number of embassy staff in India compared to Indian staff in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.
Currently, there are 62 individuals working in the Canadian Embassy in India. India’s proposal is to reduce this number to 21, indicating a significant downsizing. Those 41 individuals, if they do not comply with the deadline, will lose their diplomatic protection. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet officially confirmed this development, some officials have acknowledged that Canada has been informed.
The strained relationship between the countries intensified recently when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian intelligence of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Prior to this incident, both nations had expelled each other’s senior diplomats. This move to expel Canadian embassy staff in Delhi further exacerbates the already tense situation.
In response to the escalating tensions, Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged the existing challenges in Canada’s relationship with India but assured that Canada would refrain from initiating new conflicts moving forward.
