Canada Moves Some Diplomats Out Of India Amid Escalating Row: Report

Canada has reportedly begun reducing the number of diplomats in India after the South Asian country gave Ottawa an Oct. 10 deadline to withdraw some of its officials.

New Delhi's call to reduce the number of diplomats was the latest diplomatic blow in the India-Canada spat triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusations that India was behind the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Most of the Canadian diplomats working in India outside of New Delhi have been evacuated to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, Canadian media outlet CTV News reported, citing sources.

Earlier reports said New Delhi had asked Ottawa to cut the number of diplomats in India by 41. However, the Canadian outlet said it was to bring parity in the number of diplomats.

International Business Times tried to reach out to the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi but did not receive a response.

With an Oct. 10 deadline, New Delhi reportedly gave Canada just a few days to cut down the number of diplomats in India. Those staying in the country beyond that date may face the risk of having their diplomatic immunity revoked, a Financial Times report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

India had also announced a ban on visas for Canadian citizens soon after Trudeau's explosive claims about Indian agents being involved in Nijjar's killing in June. New Delhi dismissed the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated."

As diplomatic ties hit an all-time low, the two countries traded tit-for-tat blows, with New Delhi expelling a senior Canadian diplomat after Ottawa did the same with an Indian official.

India reiterated its stand Thursday to have Canada's diplomatic presence reduced in the country.

"As we have mentioned earlier, given the much higher diplomatic presence of Canadian diplomats...and their continuing interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing on the modalities of achieving this," India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing.

He did not specify how many diplomats might be withdrawn from India but added, "Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is very much higher, we would assume there would be a reduction."