India said Thursday it has set no deadline so far but remains determined to reduce Canada害羞草研究所檚 diplomatic presence in the South Asian country amid a confrontation over Canadian accusations that India may have been involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in suburban Vancouver.

New Delhi has dismissed the accusations as absurd.

India害羞草研究所檚 External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters at a news conference on Thursday that the two countries are discussing 害羞草研究所渕odalities on achieving害羞草研究所� parity as to the levels of diplomatic representation.

害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 like to get into details of the conversation,害羞草研究所� he said.

Earlier this week, a Canadian official said India has told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country.

Bagchi did not reply when asked whether Canada has provided credible evidence to back up its accusations but only reiterated New Delhi害羞草研究所檚 stand that it is open to look into 害羞草研究所渁nything relevant and specific害羞草研究所� that Canada may put forward.

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India has also canceled visas for Canadians. Canada has not retaliated for that. India previously expelled a senior Canadian diplomat after Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appeared to try to calm the diplomatic clash, saying that Canada is 害羞草研究所渘ot looking to provoke or escalate.害羞草研究所�

For years, India has accused Canada of giving free rein to Sikh separatists who have been fighting for the creation of 害羞草研究所淜halistan,害羞草研究所� a separate Sikh nation in India害羞草研究所檚 northern Punjab state.

Bagchi on Thursday insisted that Canada improve the security situation for Indian diplomats there. New Delhi has argued that Indian diplomats in Canada are not safe going to and from their jobs at the diplomatic missions in the North American country because of an alleged climate of fear created by Sikh separatists.

Trudeau said last month that there were 害羞草研究所渃redible allegations害羞草研究所� of Indian involvement in the slaying of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh leader who was killed by masked gunmen in June in Surrey, outside Vancouver.

For years, India has said Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, has links to terrorism, an allegation Nijjar had denied.

Ashok Sharma, The Associated Press

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