Canadian High Commission 'adjusts' staff presence; expects India to ensure safety of its diplomats

The High Commission said that it expects India to provide security for Canadian diplomats and consular officers in the country.

The development comes amid a diplomatic standoff between India and Canada over Canada's allegations of a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June.

The Canadian High Commission and all consulates in India will remain open and continue to serve clients. "Global Affairs Canada continuously monitors the safety and security of our missions and personnel as we maintain a strict security protocol to respond to any events," the high commission said.

"In light of the current environment where tensions have heightened, we are taking action to ensure the safety of our diplomats. With some diplomats having received threats on various social media platforms, Global Affairs Canada is assessing its staff complement in India," the high commission said.

"As a result, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to temporarily adjust staff presence in India. All of our locations are staffed by diplomats and locally engaged staff to ensure business and operational continuity," it added.

The high commission stated that Global Affairs Canada will continue to take all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of Canadian personnel, including locally engaged staff, and to protect its operations in India. "Decisions are made based on a number of factors including the professional profile of an employee or personal circumstances," it said.

"In the context of respect for obligations under the Vienna conventions, we expect India to provide for the security of our accredited diplomats and consular officers in India, just as we are for theirs here," the high commission further said.