Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says that India is willing to resume visa services in Canada, but only if the safety of Indian diplomats is ensured in accordance with the Vienna Convention.
The Vienna Convention is an international treaty that establishes diplomatic relations between countries. It requires that countries provide immunity and protection to diplomats and their families.
India suspended visa services in Canada in September after a series of incidents in which Indian diplomats and their families were harassed and intimidated.
Jaishankar said that India is reviewing the situation on a regular basis and will resume visa services as soon as the safety concerns are addressed.
The diplomatic tension between India and Canada has escalated in recent months. In June, Canada withdrew a significant number of its diplomats from India, leaving only the Canadian High Commission in Delhi to manage visa and consular services.
India has urged Canada to balance the number of diplomats in both countries, citing a disparity in the staffing levels between the two nations.
The tension between the two countries also stems from Canada’s large Khalistani community. The Khalistani movement is a separatist movement that seeks to create a separate Sikh homeland in Punjab, India.
The Indian government has accused Canada of harboring Khalistani extremists and of not doing enough to prevent them from carrying out terrorist attacks.
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