India appears to be softening its stance toward Canada. The Indian government has decided to resume e-visa services for Canadian citizens. This move comes after a period of diplomatic tension between the two nations following the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case.
India Resumes E-Visa Services After Two Months
After nearly two months, India has restored e-visa facilities for Canadian nationals. This means Canadians can now travel to India more easily. Speaking on the matter, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar explained that the situation in Canada has improved and the threat to Indian diplomats and embassy staff there has decreased. That’s why the government has decided to reinstate the e-visa service.
He clarified that this decision is not connected to the recent G-20 summit. The e-visa suspension was initially introduced because the circumstances in Canada had made it difficult for Indian diplomats to perform their duties. However, with conditions now better, the High Commission of India in Canada has resumed issuing e-visas to Canadian citizens. As of November 22, the service is available to all Canadian passport holders with regular passports. Other categories of travelers will need to apply for a physical (paper) visa instead.
Tensions Sparked by the Hardeep Singh Nijjar Case
Diplomatic tensions began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament that Indian agencies were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. This claim significantly strained relations. Matters escalated further when Canada expelled an Indian diplomat, prompting India to retaliate by expelling a Canadian diplomat and suspending e-visa services for Canadian citizens.
It’s worth noting that Nijjar, a known Khalistan supporter, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
Experts Weigh In
Experts believe Canada may not have anticipated such a strong response from India. More importantly, Trudeau’s government had hoped for strong support from the United States on this issue. However, the U.S. response remained largely informal and fell short of expectations. Realizing that maintaining a prolonged rift with India could be damaging, the Canadian government likely saw the need to ease tensions. On the other hand, India wanted to make it clear that its actions were not against ordinary Canadian citizens. Restoring the e-visa service is seen as a step toward normalizing relations.
