On Sunday, S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, addressed the matter of invoking diplomatic parity with Canada, emphasizing that this measure was taken in response to "concerns about continuous interference in our affairs by Canadian personnel." He shed light on the use of the concept of parity, which is an integral aspect of the Vienna Convention—a pivotal international framework governing diplomatic relations.
In regard to the interference by Canadian diplomats in Indian affairs, Jaishankar alluded to the existence of undisclosed information on this matter. He noted that, over time, more details may surface, shedding light on the reasons for India's unease with the conduct of certain Canadian personnel.
Jaishankar delved deeper into the strain in diplomatic relations between India and Canada, expressing his hopes for an amelioration in the situation and the restoration of confidence among Indian diplomats in carrying out their essential duties. He underscored the critical role of the Vienna Convention, emphasizing that ensuring the safety and security of diplomats is fundamental to this accord. However, he asserted that these fundamentals have been challenged in Canada, where Indian diplomats face concerns about their safety.
Furthermore, Jaishankar affirmed that the issuance of visas would be resumed once diplomatic ties between India and Canada show signs of improvement.
Prior to this, India had criticized Canada's comments following the withdrawal of 41 diplomats from Ottawa. In a statement, India firmly rejected any portrayal of invoking parity as a breach of international norms, reiterating that the higher number of Canadian diplomats in India and their continued involvement in India's internal affairs justified a reciprocal diplomatic presence in both New Delhi and Ottawa.
The diplomatic tension between India and Canada escalated in September of the same year when India requested Canada to reduce its diplomatic representation. This request came after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made statements suggesting a plausible link between Indian agents and the June murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey.
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