India has halted visa services for Canadian citizens in response to what it calls "security threats" against Canadian diplomats, increasing the tension between the two countries.
This comes after Ottawa accused New Delhi of being involved in the death of a Sikh separatist activist on its land.
BLS International, which handles Indian visa applications in Canada, informed Indian stock exchanges on Thursday that visa services "have been suspended until further notice."
Did you read this?
"Due to operational reasons, Indian visa services in Canada have been suspended with immediate effect, i.e. 21 September 2023," the letter to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India, and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange said.
On its website, BLS International said that India had ceased visa services for Canadian citizens beginning Thursday, citing a notice from the Indian consulate.
The message was temporarily withdrawn on Thursday before reappearing without explanation on Friday.
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, "security threats" experienced by the Indian High Commission and consulates in Canada prompted a temporary pause in visa issuing across all categories.
The announcement followed a severe travel recommendation issued by India's foreign ministry on Wednesday, asking its people to be wary of "politically sanctioned hate crimes" in Canada.
The travel advisory comes just days after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that authorities were looking into "credible allegations" of a possible link between "agents of the government of India" and the June shooting death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh Canadian citizen.
New Delhi has categorically disputed the charges, describing them as "absurd and motivated."
According to India's foreign ministry, Canada has offered "no specific information" to support Delhi's alleged role in Nijjar's killing.
No one has been arrested in Canada in connection with Nijjar's murder. However, in an August update, police stated they were investigating three individuals and described a probable getaway vehicle, asking for the public's assistance.
