The United States and United Kingdom have firmly backed Canada after New Delhi ordered it to reduce its diplomatic staff in India amid an ongoing standoff between the two countries over the murder of a Sikh separatist. The US and UK urged India not to insist Canada to reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats.
Washington has said it took Canada's allegations of a "potential link" of Indian agents with the death of a Khalistani terrorirst seriously and, along with London, urged India to cooperate with Canada in the murder probe even as Western powers have been reluctant to openly condemn India, according to a report by Reuters.
"We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian government's demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
Canada withdrew 41 diplomats from India and suspended in-person consular services at three consulates general in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Speaking to reporters at a televised press conference in Brampton, Ontario, Trudeau said, "The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada. And they're doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy."
Friday's statements from the US State Department and Britain's Foreign Office have so far been the most direct criticism by Washington and London of India thus far in this case. "We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada's diplomatic mission," the statement added.
A spokesperson for Britain's Foreign Office said they "do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India." Citing the Vienna Convention, Britain's Foreign Office said, "The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles or the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention."
The Indian government however, has rejected the allegation of violation of international norms. India asserted that ensuring two-way diplomatic parity is fully in compliance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations."We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the External Affairs ministry said in a statement.
