Indian missions ‘temporarily’ suspend visa service in Canada due to ‘security threats’

India on Thursday said it is "temporarily unable to process visa applications" in Canada because of "security threats" being faced by its missions in the Northern American nation.

"You are aware of the security threats being faced by our High Commission and Consulates in Canada. This has disrupted their normal functioning. Accordingly, our High Commission and Consulates are temporarily unable to process visa applications. We will be reviewing the situation on a regular basis," Arindam Bagchi, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, said during a weekly press briefing.

Responding to a question, Bagchi said: "Any country that needs to look at this, I think It is Canada and its growing reputation as a place as a safe haven for terrorists, for extremists and for organized crime. I think that is the country, that needs to be worried about its international reputation”.

Earlier, visa consultancy service provider BLS International, citing a notice from the Indian mission, said: "Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice."

This came as relations between Ottawa and New Delhi have hit rock bottom after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that India had a hand in the killing of Canadian Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a claim New Delhi denied.