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India has advised Canada to take away 41 of its 62 diplomats within the nation, an official acquainted with the matter says, ramping up a confrontation between the 2 international locations over Canadian accusations India might have been concerned within the killing of a Sikh separatist chief in Vancouver.
The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t authorised to talk publicly forward of public response from the Canadian authorities afterward Tuesday.
The official confirmed an earlier report from the Financial Times.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs declined to remark however ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi had beforehand known as for a discount in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered India’s staffing in Canada.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood up in parliament final month and mentioned there have been “credible allegations” of Indian involvement within the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh chief who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outdoors Vancouver.
For years, India has mentioned Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, has hyperlinks to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar denied.
On Tuesday, Trudeau didn’t affirm the variety of diplomats which were advised to depart however steered Canada wouldn’t retaliate.
“Obviously, we are going through an extremely challenging time with India right now but that’s why it is so important for us to have diplomats on the ground working with the Indian government and there to support Canadians and Canadian families,” Trudeau mentioned.
“We’re taking this extremely seriously but we’re going to continue to engage responsibly and constructively with the Indian government.”
India has accused Canada for years of giving free rein to Sikh separatists, together with Nijjar.
India has additionally cancelled visas for Canadians.
Canada has not retaliated for that.
India beforehand expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat.
The allegation of India’s involvement within the killing is predicated partially on the surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, together with intelligence supplied by a significant ally, a separate Canadian official beforehand advised the Associated Press.
The official mentioned that the communications concerned Indian officers and diplomats in Canada and that a few of the intelligence was supplied by a member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance, which incorporates the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand along with Canada.
The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t authorised to debate the matter publicly.
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