The majority of Canada's ambassadors in India reportedly moved to Malaysia and Singapore. In order to maintain parity with India's diplomatic representation in nations in North America, the Indian government had earlier requested that Canada recall 41 diplomats from India.
The development came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that Indian operatives were involved in the murder of Khalistan leader and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim that Indian authorities said has not yet been supported by any proof.
Amid concerns that a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic strength could delay visas for Indian nationals, particularly students, the government had said that its focus now is on ensuring parity as Canadian diplomats continued to interfere in India’s internal affairs.
According to a report in CTV News, Ottawa has until October 10 to reduce its diplomatic staff to a level that is comparable to the number of Indian ambassadors stationed in Canada. Canada was expressly asked to remove 41 diplomats in order to achieve balance.
“A majority of Canadian diplomats working in India outside of Delhi have been evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the US reiterated support for Canada’s probe into Nijjar’s killing calling it a terrible assassination. “Let me just say that we support Canada’s investigation. We want everyone - including the Indian government - to help advance the investigation into this terrible assassination, and we would urge everyone to cooperate and to take the investigation as far as it goes,” said the US Global Engagement Center (GEC) special envoy James Rubin. The GEC works under the US State Department.