Canada withdraws 41 diplomats from India amid tensions leading to a diplomatic showdown

Canada has withdrawn 41 of its diplomats from India, a move prompted by the ongoing diplomatic standoff between the two nations. The decision comes in response to India's intention to unilaterally revoke diplomatic immunities for all but 21 Canadian diplomats and their dependents in Delhi by October 20, 2023. As a result, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a reduction in staffing levels in India from 27 to 5, which is expected to affect the processing times for visa applications from Indian nationals.

The diplomatic tensions between Canada and India stemmed from a highly publicized incident involving the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in British Columbia in June. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing, a claim that India vehemently dismissed as "absurd and motivated."

This led to a series of tit-for-tat expulsions of senior diplomats, with India suspending all visa services for Canadian nationals and requesting Canada to downsize its diplomatic presence in India. In response, Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly confirmed that Canadian diplomats have left India, citing concerns about their safety.