In a move that has escalated diplomatic tensions between Canada and India, the Canadian government updated its travel advisory on Tuesday, advising its citizens to avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The advisory cites the “unpredictable security situation” in the region as the primary reason for this cautionary measure. However, it is important to note that the advisory excludes travel to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Canada’s travel advisory emphasizes the presence of multiple security concerns in Jammu and Kashmir, including the threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest, and kidnapping. It categorizes travel to this region as “Exercise A High Degree Of Caution.”
"Avoid all travel to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to the unpredictable security situation. There is a threat of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest and kidnapping. This advisory excludes travelling to or within the Union Territory of Ladakh," says Canada in its… pic.twitter.com/AxV7aZ18q3
— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2023
This development comes in the wake of allegations made by Canada concerning the Indian government’s possible involvement in the killing of Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. The Canadian government’s assertion led to a series of reciprocal actions, including the expulsion of an Indian intelligence official from Canada and a senior Canadian diplomat from New Delhi.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stressed the seriousness of these allegations, stating, “India needs to take this matter with the utmost seriousness. We are doing that; we are not looking to provoke or escalate.”
Canada’s allegations are rooted in what it describes as “credible allegations” that individuals connected to New Delhi were responsible for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, on June 18. This incident occurred in front of a Sikh cultural center in a Vancouver suburb. In response, the Indian government dismissed Canada’s allegations as “absurd.”
Prime Minister Trudeau has reiterated that his government’s statements are not meant to escalate tensions with India but rather to present the facts as they understand them. However, these events have further strained bilateral relations, which were already strained due to pro-Khalistan activities in Canada, including efforts to hold a referendum on a separate homeland for Sikhs, incidents targeting Indian diplomatic premises, and calls for violence against senior Indian officials.
In response to Canada’s actions, the Indian government summoned Canadian envoy Cameron MacKay to the external affairs ministry and informed him of the decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat, who was identified as the head of Canadian intelligence in India. The external affairs ministry issued a statement expressing its growing concern about “the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities.”
Prime Minister Trudeau concluded by emphasizing the importance of sovereignty, stating, “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty. It is contrary to the fundamental rules by which free, open, and democratic societies conduct themselves.”
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The Chenab Times News Desk
