India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens

In the wake of tensions between Delhi and Ottawa over the case of the assassination of an Indian Sikh leader in Canada, India has "suspended" visa services in Canada.

The website of BLS International, a company that supports consular services and visa issuance for India worldwide, reported that, for "operational reasons," visa services for India in Canada have been suspended since Friday, September 30, until further notice.

According to the French news agency, after this news was published in the media, the website removed its announcement, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not provided any explanation in this regard yet.

Relations between India and Canada have escalated following accusations by Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, against Delhi in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Associated Press reported on Friday that the international response to these allegations by Mr. Trudeau is seen as a "lesson in modern geopolitics."

According to the news agency, none of Canada's important allies, including the United States, Britain, Australia, or New Zealand, have reiterated Canada's claims. These countries have merely called for a thorough investigation into the matter but have not condemned India's alleged involvement in the killing of the separatist Sikh leader that occurred in Canada in June.

The Associated Press believes that the reason for this discrepancy lies in the different priorities of each country in their relations with India and in India's role as a balancing factor in the region against the increasing influence and power of China. In this regard, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of Britain, who has signed a free trade agreement with Delhi following Britain's exit from the European Union, stated that Trudeau's allegations are "serious" but should be investigated by Canadian authorities. He also emphasized that this issue will not affect trade with India.

The Associated Press also emphasizes that all these tensions and strains with India are not solely related to China, and India's economic growth also plays a significant role in maintaining its relations with other countries. India's economy is expected to surpass that of global giants like Japan and Germany by 2023 and become the world's third-largest economy. It is also important to note that some of Canada's major allies are still significant trading partners with India.
Sources