India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, citing alleged ‘security threats’ for Indian diplomats in Canada. The move is the latest escalation in a diplomatic spat that began after Canada accused the
Indian government of having a hand in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
The agency that manages visa applications for India in Canada sent a letter to Indian stock exchanges announcing the change.
‘Due to operation reasons, with immediate effect i.e. 21 September 2023, Indian visa services in Canada have been suspended till further notice,’ the letter read, according to CNN.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the decision was due to safety concerns that were making normal operations impossible.
‘Security threats being faced by our High Commission and consulates in Canada have disrupted their normal functioning. Accordingly, they are temporarily unable to process visa applications,’ ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
The move could affect some of the 1.4 million people of Indian descent who call Canada home.
India previously announced a travel warning for Indians traveling to Canada, and each country expelled one of the other’s senior diplomats in a tit-for-tat move.
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