On Wednesday, India lifted the suspension on issuing electronic visas for Canadian nationals, signaling a potential easing of tensions between the two countries. The electronic visa services were temporarily halted amid a diplomatic dispute sparked by Ottawa’s accusation of potential Indian government complicity in the murder of a Canadian Sikh separatist leader.
The resumption of e-visa services is viewed as a significant move aimed at repairing the strained relations that resulted from Canada’s claims of Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil earlier this year.
This development follows last month’s decision by India to reinstate certain categories of visa services for Canadian citizens, a move welcomed by Ottawa as positive news for Canadians.
The diplomatic discord between India and Canada originated in June when Nijjar was assassinated by unidentified assailants outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau subsequently made allegations in Parliament, asserting “credible” links between Indian government agents and Nijjar’s killing based on intelligence reports.
While these claims were supported by U.S. intelligence assistance, public evidence substantiating them is yet to be presented. India has consistently denied any involvement, dismissing the allegations as “absurd” and politically motivated.
