India to resume some visa services in Canada amid diplomatic row

From October 26, India will restore some visa services in Canada after halting them due to a diplomatic dispute over the alleged targeted killing of a Khalistan supporter.

The Indian High Commission in Ottawa said on Wednesday that the following visa categories will once again be available: conference, business, medical, and entry.

This development occurs just a few days after India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, stated on Sunday that, should its diplomats’ safety in Canada improve, India may consider “very soon” resuming visa services for Canadians.

After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on September 18 that there may have been a connection between Indian operatives and the June murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, tensions between India and Canada rose considerably.

New Delhi vigorously refuted the allegations. A few days later, it said that visas for Canadian citizens would no longer be issued, and it requested that Ottawa reduce its diplomatic staff in India.