India-Canada Row: Canada Relocates 41 Diplomats From India To Singapore, Malaysia

Amid escalating tensions and diplomatic sparring between India and Canada, a recent development has seen Canada evacuate at least 41 of its diplomats from India and relocate them to Southeast Asian countries, primarily Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

According to PTI, this move follows India's request for Canada to withdraw diplomats from New Delhi by 10th October, to achieve parity in the number of diplomatic staff between the two nations.

Canada's High Commission in India previously housed 62 diplomats, a significant number of whom have now been relocated to Southeast Asia as per a CTV report. However, no official confirmation regarding the evacuation of these diplomats from New Delhi has been provided yet.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly had earlier stated that diplomatic discussions with India were ongoing regarding staff reduction. She emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring the safety of Canadian diplomats and the preference for keeping such diplomatic conversations private.

As per the report, Joly was quoted saying, "We are in contact with the government of India. We take Canadian diplomats' safety very seriously, and we will continue to engage privately because we think that diplomatic conversations are best when they remain private,"

The diplomatic standoff between India and Canada escalated due to strained bilateral ties. Reportedly, India's request for Canada to withdraw its diplomats from New Delhi by the specified deadline came with a warning that failure to comply would result in the officials losing their diplomatic immunity.

India sought diplomatic presence parity:

India's objective in seeking parity in diplomatic presence is rooted in concerns over the substantial presence of Canadian diplomats in India and their perceived interference in the nation's internal matters.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday, 5th October was quoted saying, "On discussions on parity, given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence," while addressing media on questions over the issue.

He further reiterated India's stance, emphasizing the need for discussions to achieve parity. Bagchi said, "Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction,"

Diplomatic relations between India and Canada reached a low point following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations of Indian intelligence agency involvement in the murder of Sikh pro-Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response to these allegations, both countries expelled each other's diplomats. India dismissed Canada's claims as "absurd" and "politically driven." The situation remains tense as diplomatic negotiations continue.