[ad_1]
Key Points
- India’s visa processing centre in Canada first suspended, then reinstated visa services.
- It follows explosive allegations India might have been involved in a Canadian citizen’s killing.
- Canada also expelled an Indian diplomat, and India followed by expelling a Canadian diplomat on Tuesday.
An Indian company on Thursday withdrew a notice about the suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens, minutes after stating on its website that the services were suspended following a notice from the Indian mission.
BLS International, an Indian company offering visa facilities, had earlier said the notice from the Indian mission in Canada cited “operational reasons” for the suspension of visa services “till further notice”.
“Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” the BLS Indian Visa Application Centre in Canada said.
It gave no further details.
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson did not respond to queries about the matter.
Tensions between the two countries escalated earlier this week when Canada said that it was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government categorically rejected Canada’s suspicions that Indian agents had links to the alleged murder.
On Wednesday, India issued an updated travel advisory urging its citizens travelling in Canada and especially those studying in the North American country to be cautious because of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes”.
With both nations expelling diplomats, analysts said India and Canada’s diplomatic ties have touched their lowest point.
Canada is India’s 17th largest foreign investor, pouring in more than US$3.6 billion ($5.6 billion) since 2000, while Canadian portfolio investors have invested billions of dollars in Indian stock and debt markets.
Since 2018, India has been the largest source country for international students in Canada.
In 2022, their number rose 47 per cent to nearly 320,000, accounting for about 40 per cent of total overseas students, the Canadian Bureau of International Education says, which also helps universities and colleges provide subsidised education to domestic students.
[ad_2]
Source link
