According to experts, the diplomatic impasse will hinder the two nations’ ability to advance their once-promising cooperation and may have an effect on India’s aspirations as it attempts to establish itself as a major global force.
In the midst of diplomatic tensions over the killing of the Sikh leader, India demands that Canada recall 41 diplomats.
According to Praveen Donthi, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, “India-Canada bilateral relations, which have been on a downward trajectory since last year, will take a further hit which will take a long time to repair.”
The tit-for-tat expulsions on Monday followed Canada’s Sunday announcement to India that its top diplomat in the nation is a person of interest in the 2023 murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and that police have found evidence of a growing campaign by Indian government agents against Canadians.
“Ample, clear, and concrete evidence that identified six individuals as persons of interest in the Nijjar case,” stated Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who also linked Nijjar’s murder to five other expelled Indian officials.
