Today: 23 June 2025
13 October 2023
2 mins read

MEA clears the air on downsizing Canadian diplomatic presence

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said India is engaged with Canada on the modalities to achieve “parity” in the diplomatic presence…reports Asian Lite News

India on Thursday insisted on the need for ensuring “parity” in Canada’s diplomatic presence in the country and asserted that its measures are in compliance with the Vienna conventions on diplomatic relations, signalling continuing strain in the bilateral ties over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in June.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also made a veiled criticism of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for taking up the diplomatic row with a number foreign leaders, and said the “core issue” has been Canada providing space to terrorist and criminal elements.

“I do not know really how it helps address the core issue. And what is the core issue — (it is) the space given by Canada to terrorist and criminal elements,” Bagchi said at his weekly media briefing.

Trudeau discussed the Canada-India diplomatic row with the King of Jordan and the UAE president recently while insisting that international conventions must be respected.

Bagchi also appeared to reject Canada’s view that India’s demand for reducing Canadian diplomatic presence is not compliant with the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.

“From our part, I can assure that everything India is doing is in compliance with the Vienna conventions on diplomatic relations,” he said.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said India is engaged with Canada on the modalities to achieve “parity” in the diplomatic presence.

India asked Canada to withdraw several dozen diplomats from its missions amid the escalating diplomatic row that erupted following Trudeau’s allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India strongly rejected the charges.

Reports said India asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats.

“We remain committed to what we said that is ensuring parity in our diplomatic presence. We remained engaged with the Canadian authorities on the modalities of achieving that,” Bagchi said.

“We are engaged with the Canadian authorities to ensure parity,” he said.

Asked about a report in the Financial Times newspaper that Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly held a “secret meeting” with her Indian counterpart S Jaishankar in Washington last month, Bagchi said he did not have any information on it to share.

“We have been in touch with Canadians at various levels. Regarding any specific interaction, I do not have any particular information to share,” he said.

Jaishankar was in Washington DC from September 27 to 30 after concluding a five-day trip to New York.

Bagchi also urged Canada to “take more seriously their international obligation to provide security to our diplomats and their premises”.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

ALSO READ-MEA and UN Address Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building

Previous Story

Israel’s Top Brass Takes The Blame For Intel Failure

Next Story

‘Sharp rise in companies’ climate-related risk disclosure’

Latest from -Top News

Oman Breaks Gulf Taboo on Income Tax

There is no other country in the 6-member Gulf Cooperation Council that imposes income tax….reports Asian Lite News Oman has officially become the first Gulf country to introduce a personal income tax,

Fresh Israeli Raids Hit Iran

The strikes came shortly after Iran fired a missile at Israel before dawn and triggered air raid sirens across much of the country….reports Asian Lite News Israel conducted a new wave of

Netanyahu: Iran Goals Near

Netanyahu pledged not to let Israel get dragged into a “war of attrition” with Tehran…reports Asian Lite News Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed on Sunday that Israel is “very close” to

Khamenei Vows Payback

Calling the attacks “a big crime,” Khamenei warned of retaliation….reports Asian Lite News Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday, in his first reaction following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear

US committed great crime: Iran

Iran has now called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and demanded the IAEA Board of Governors address the situation….reports Asian Lite News Iran has strongly condemned the United
Go toTop

Don't Miss

UAE, Canada set to boost defence industry collaboration

Al Jaber praised the notable development in bilateral ties between

Pope voices pain over Canada deaths, but doesn’t apologise

This comes as the mass burial place of 215 children,