India will resume visa services in Canada from Oct. 26, a little over a month after allegations of the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader sparked diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Visa services will resume in four categories: entry, business, medical and conference, according to a statement by the Indian High Commission in Canada. "Emergency situations will continue to be addressed by the High Commission and the Consulates General as it is being done currently."
Indian visa services in Canada were suspended on Sept. 21 for "security reasons" amid the diplomatic row. That came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadian agencies have credible leads in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force who was murdered in a Vancouver suburb. India dismissed the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”. Both the countries expelled a senior diplomat each in tit-for-tat moves.
Canada Asked To Reduce Diplomatic Presence
India invoked the provision of parity in Canada's diplomatic presence in the country in view of concerns over interference in New Delhi's affairs by Canadian personnel, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said last week.
"If we see progress in safety of our diplomats in Canada, we would like to resume issuance of visas there," Jaishankar said at an event while replying to a question on India-Canada ties.
On downsizing Canada's diplomatic presence in India, he said diplomatic parity is very much provided for in the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
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