CANADA: On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau engaged in a discussion with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan regarding the ongoing dispute between India and Canada, stating the significance of upholding and respecting the “rule of law.”
During their telephone conversation, both leaders also talked about the present situation in Israel and expressed mutual concerns about the protection of civilian lives.
“On the phone today, His Highness @MohamedBinZayed and I spoke about the current situation in Israel. We expressed our deep concern and discussed the need to protect civilian life. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding- and respecting- the rule of law,” Trudeau wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The origins of tension between India and Canada can be traced back to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In response to the killing of the Khalistani separatist leader, Canada expelled a high-ranking Indian diplomat and accused India of involvement in the incident.
India, on the other hand, strongly denied any connection to the assassination and, in retaliation, expelled a Canadian diplomat. Moreover, amidst rising tensions, India urged for a balance in the number of Canadian diplomats stationed in India.
Early this month, Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, responded to allegations that India had asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats from the nation, stating that as Canada has a far larger diplomatic representation in India, “there would be a reduction.”
UK PM Sunak calls for de-escalation of the India-Canada dispute
In a call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged for a de-escalation of tensions amid the India-Canada dispute.
A Downing Street statement mentioned that Sunak was briefed on the status of Canadian diplomats in India during the conversation, which took place on Friday evening.
“He (Rishi Sunak) hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation and agreed to remain in contact with Prime Minister Trudeau on the next steps,” the Downing Street statement reads.
Sunak also restated the UK’s stance that every nation should uphold the principles of sovereignty, the rule of law, and the tenets outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
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