UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently engaged in a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau concerning the ongoing India-Canada dispute, expressing his hope for a reduction in tensions between the two nations.
A statement from Downing Street revealed that Trudeau provided Sunak with an update on the situation, involving the relocation of the majority of Canadian diplomats from their Indian missions to other South Asian nations. In response to the deteriorating relationship between the two countries, India had requested the departure of 41 Canadian diplomats from its territory.
Sunak reiterated the UK’s stance, emphasizing the importance of all countries respecting sovereignty and the rule of law, including adhering to the principles outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. He expressed optimism for a de-escalation of the situation and agreed to maintain communication with Prime Minister Trudeau regarding the next steps, as stated in the office’s release.
In mid-September, Trudeau informed the Canadian parliament of “credible allegations” pursued by their security forces, linking Indian government agents to the June assassination of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs dismissed these allegations as baseless.
While the Canadian government has not presented any evidence to substantiate these claims, Ottawa has proposed private discussions with India as a means of addressing the ongoing dispute. The Canadian foreign minister argued that diplomatic conversations are most effective when kept confidential.
