During a press briefing on Friday, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated, "We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India in response to the Indian government's demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India."
US further urged the Indian government to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation.
Noting that resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground, Miller said, "We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada's diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation."
Miller further added that the US expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
"We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada's diplomatic mission," he added.
The Ministry of External Affairs had called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India citing their continued "interference" in New Delhi's "internal matters".
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that no international norms were violated in India seeking parity in the mutual diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa.
Canada had accused India of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations Foreign Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday that Canada has removed 41 diplomats and their 42 dependants from India amid the ongoing row between the two countries.
"We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms," the MEA said.
The tension between Canada and India escalated when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau claimed that Canadian national security officials had reason to believe that "agents of the Indian government" were responsible for Nijjar's killing. However, India categorically denied these allegations, deeming them "absurd" and "motivated." As of now, Canada has not provided public evidence to substantiate these claims.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been designated a terrorist in India, was fatally shot outside a Gurdwara in a parking area in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18.
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