PRESS RELEASE : Departure of Canadian diplomats from India: FCDO response [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 20 October 2023.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office response to the departure of Canadian diplomats from India.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

Resolving differences requires communication and diplomats in respective capitals.

We do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India.

We expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles or the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention.

We continue to encourage India to engage with Canada on its independent investigation into the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.