After a month-long visa suspension sparked by strained relations with Canada, India resumed certain categories of Visa services for Canadians on Wednesday.
On X, the Indian High Commission in Canada posted, “After a considered review of the security situation that takes into account some recent Canadian measures in this regard, it has been decided to resume visa services for the following categories with effect from October 26, 2023. (a) Entry visa, (b) Business visa, (c) Medical visa, and (d) Conference visa.”
“Emergency situations will continue to be addressed by the High Commission and the Consulates General as it is being done currently”, the official statement added.
India paused visa services for citizens of Canada on September 21 due to increased diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Tensions started after Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau claimed that India was involved in the June 2018 murder of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a member of the Khalistani movement. It came after both nations' tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats, which increased tensions further.
S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, recently made an interview outlining the reasons behind India's decision to suspend issuing visas to Canada. Saying that the two nations' relationship was going through a "difficult phase," the minister added, "Some weeks ago, we stopped issuing visas in Canada because it was no longer safe for our diplomats to go to work to issue visas. So their safety and security was the primary reason we had to temporarily stop the issue of visas”.
Additionally, EMA Jaishankar stated that if improvements are made in the safety of its diplomats in Canada, India is considering "very soon" resuming visa services for Canadians.
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