India directs Canada to cut diplomatic presence

India has asked Canada to withdraw several dozen diplomats from its missions in the country, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday amid the diplomatic row over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation linking Indian agents to the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

- Rezaul H Laskar

The move follows an announcement by the external affairs ministry last month that the Canadian government had been informed about the need for "parity in strength and rank equivalence" in mutual diplomatic presence. This was expected to lead to a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said.

Since the announcement by the ministry, an exercise was carried out to determine the number of diplomats Canada would be asked to withdraw, one of the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. "That exercise has been completed and the number has been conveyed to the Canadian side," he said, without giving details.

A second person added, "We had already spoken about the need for parity in mutual diplomatic presence. The number of Canadian diplomats in India is much higher." The people didn't provide specific details about the number of diplomats Canada will have to withdraw. A report by Financial Times said Canada has 62 diplomats in India and India has asked for this figure to be reduced by 41 people. The Canadian diplomats must be repatriated by October 10, the report said.

"One person said India had threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of diplomats who remain after that date," Financial Times reported.