After Sri Lanka and Pakistan, Canada…when did India call back its High Commissioner from abroad?
After the statement of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, India has taken action and expelled 6 of its diplomats. Along with this, India has also called back its High Commissioner Sanjay Verma living in Canada. The Indian Foreign Ministry has denied Trudeau's allegations and said that the security of our diplomats in Canada is at risk, so we are calling them back to India.
Such steps are usually taken after tensions in bilateral relations, political instability, or any serious issue. Canada is not the first country from where India has recalled its High Commissioner. Earlier also India recalled its High Commissioner from countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.
Sri Lankan Civil War and India
Civil war broke out in Sri Lanka in 1983. The war between the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government was also a cause of concern for India. To establish peace in the country, India sent peace forces to northern Sri Lanka in 1987, but about 1,200 of its soldiers were killed in the war with LTTE. Apart from this, many allegations were also made against India by Sri Lankan leaders. After which India recalled its High Commissioner from Sri Lanka.
Nepal trade dispute
India was embroiled in a trade dispute with Nepal in 1989. The relations between the two countries became strained when Nepal devalued its rupee from the Indian rupee, which was circulating freely in Nepal.
Apart from this, the government here started issuing work permits for Indian businessmen. After which India called back its High Commissioner and wrote a letter to Nepal saying that the deal that had been in place for almost thirty years to control the movement of fruits and vegetables, medicines, and petroleum products between the two countries has ended. Nepal will now have to make its own arrangements for these.
In February 2019, there was a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. In which about 40 soldiers lost their lives. After the attack, India's relations with Pakistan deteriorated and India recalled its diplomats from Islamabad.
Who is the High Commissioner?
In Commonwealth countries, the High Commissioner is the senior diplomat in charge of a diplomatic mission of a government to another Commonwealth country. Diplomatic missions between Commonwealth countries are usually called High Commissions, rather than Embassies.
However, the role of a High Commissioner is similar to that of an ambassador. In Commonwealth countries, the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is called the High Commission. Ambassadors and High Commissioners are selected from the ranks of the Indian Foreign Service.