Canada has reversed its decision to impose extra screening measures on travelers flying to India, just days after introducing the measures as a precautionary step. The new rules, which were announced amidst escalating tensions between India and Canada, will no longer require additional security checks for passengers traveling to India.

Earlier, Canada’s Transport Minister Anita Anand had stated that the “temporary additional security screening measures” could cause delays for passengers. However, the measures have now been rolled back following criticism and diplomatic fallout.

This move comes at a time when India-Canada relations are under significant strain. The tensions began when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused “agents” from Delhi of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver last June. Trudeau claimed that “credible information” had been shared with international intelligence partners, including the US, regarding the incident.

In response, Canada expelled Indian diplomats, and India reciprocated by expelling Canadian Charge d’Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats. Trudeau criticized the Indian government’s alleged support for criminal activity against Canadians, calling it “absolutely unacceptable.”

Nijjar, the leader of the banned terror group Khalistan Tiger Force, was a wanted criminal in India for multiple offenses, including the murder of a Hindu priest in Punjab. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had even offered a reward for information leading to his capture.

In response to the accusations, India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed a Canadian report claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aware of the plot to kill Nijjar, calling it a “smear campaign.” The Canadian government later labeled the report as “speculative and inaccurate.”

The diplomatic row continues to unfold as both countries exchange accusations and defend their respective positions on the matter.