Sunak, Trudeau underscore need for de-escalation of India-Canada row

London, Oct 7 (PTI) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau
have underscored the importance of de-escalation of the India-Canada diplomatic row and respect
for the rule of law in a call, which was dominated by the standoff over the killing of a Sikh separatist
leader in Canada in June.
According to a Downing Street statement, the British Indian leader spoke to Trudeau on Friday
evening during which he was updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. Both
leaders agreed to stay in contact as Sunak reaffirmed the UK position of respect for the rule of law
after Canada‘s allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan wanted terrorist.
“Prime Minister Trudeau updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India,” reads the
Downing Street statement.
“The Prime Minister [Sunak] reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect
sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Relations. He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with
Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps,” it said.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office from Ottawa echoed the statement, saying that Trudeau
provided an update on the current situation between Canada and India.
“The leaders emphasised respect for the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the need to
ensure the safety and security of their citizens. They underscored the importance of de-escalation in
this context. Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Sunak agreed to remain in close contact
and to continue working together to tackle global issues,” the Canadian government statement
reads.
The call comes in the wake of Trudeau’s statement in the Canadian Parliament last month that its
security forces were "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the
murder of Khalistan Tiger Force leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June, an allegation
strongly rejected by India as “absurd and motivated”.
The telephonic talks between Sunak and Trudeau took place in the days after the fallout of that
diplomatic row resonated in the UK when Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami
was blocked from a planned visit to Glasgow Gurdwara in Scotland last week by pro-Khalistan
extremists.
“Concerned to see that the Indian High Commissioner, Vikram Doraiswami, was stopped from
meeting with the Gurudwara Committee at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. The safety and security of
foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all,”
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK Foreign Office minister for Indo-Pacific wrote on X.
In recent developments, the Ministry External Affairs (MEA) said it has been coordinating with its
mission in Ottawa and consulates in other Canadian cities over safety concerns.
“We have been taking up concerns of security of our diplomats and premises from people there who
are wanted by our security and our judicial systems, and we will continue to do that as that is a
continued conversation. The issue is about security, and our diplomats are safe and the community
is not targeted,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi.
India has also asserted that Canada must reduce its diplomatic presence in the country to achieve
parity in strength and alleged that some of the Canadian diplomats are involved in interfering in New
Delhi’s internal matters.
Bagchi said discussions on the modalities to arrive at mutual diplomatic presence are going on and
gave clear indication that India will not review its position on the issue.