India confirmed on Thursday that it had demanded a further reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence, following reports that New Delhi had ordered dozens of foreign service officers repatriated in a dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist.
Indian foreign ministry chief spokesman Arindam Bagchi say that India “assumed that there would be a reduction” in Canada’s presence after asking Ottawa to match the number of diplomats New Delhi had serving there.
“Given the much higher diplomatic presence of Canadian diplomats here, and their continued interference in our internal affairs, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence,” he told reporters at a regular news briefing.
India has already advised its nationals against travelling to parts of Canada and has temporarily stopped processing visa applications to Canada.
