Canada’s inability to provide safety and security to Indian diplomats challenges the “most fundamental aspect” of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Sunday. Mr. Jaishankar’s remarks came two days after Canada withdrew 41 of its diplomats from India and “paused” walk-in services at its consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chandigarh, affecting Canadian visa facilities for Indians.
Indian missions in Canada had stopped issuing visas last month, but Dr. Jaishankar said that India would like to resume visa services if the working conditions for Indian diplomats improved in Canada.
“My hope, my expectation is that the situation would improve in the sense that our people would have greater confidence in being able to do their basic duty as diplomats. Because ensuring safety and security of diplomats is the most fundamental aspect of the Vienna Convention. And right now, that is what has in many ways been challenged in Canada — that our people are not safe, our diplomats are not safe,” Dr. Jaishankar said. “If we see progress there, I would like very much to resume the issue of visas,” he added. He was speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave New Delhi.
