On Tuesday, Canada sparked new controversy by publishing an updated travel advise, recommending residents not to visit certain regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and Manipur.
Canada responded to the growing crisis by upgrading its travel advisory, advising its people to exercise "high degree of caution" when travelling to India due to the anticipated terrorism danger.
The freshly issued travel alert noted a generalised threat of terrorist attacks across India, but identified specific areas of increased risk.
It advised against non-essential travel to states such as Assam and Manipur, citing the risk of terrorism and insurgency in these areas.
The recommendation also advised against travelling to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, citing the unpredictability of the security situation as well as the presence of terrorism, militancy, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
The advise specifically prohibited travel to or inside the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Canada warned its residents to avoid border areas with Pakistan, particularly those within 10 km of the border in the provinces of Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
This precautionary action was due to the volatile security environment in these areas, which was exacerbated by the presence of landmines and explosive ordnance. The Wagah border crossing, on the other hand, was exempt.
The rise in relations between India and Canada went beyond travel warnings. India had earlier expelled a senior Canadian diplomat stationed in the country in response to Canada's moves.
Cameron Mackay, Canada's High Commissioner to India, was summoned, and the Indian government informed him that the diplomat will be expelled within five days.
The foreign ministry issued a statement claiming that the decision was made in response to perceived intervention by Canadian diplomats in internal Indian affairs and their alleged engagement in anti-India activities.
Following Canada's earlier expulsion of a high-ranking Indian diplomat, this diplomatic tit-for-tat marked a downward spiral in bilateral ties.
The principal driver of these developments was Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, who accused the Government of India in an extraordinary speech to Parliament of having a hand in the June fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the head of the Khalistan Tiger Force, in British Columbia.
Trudeau said that Canadian security authorities were actively investigating plausible allegations that Indian government operatives were involved in the murder.
India quickly dismissed these charges as "absurd and motivated," emphatically denying any participation in Nijjar's death.
The Ministry of External Affairs published a statement criticising the claims made by Canada's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, emphasising their falsity.
