Khalistanis using Canada as a base for planing and funding violence in India: Canada's top spy agency
Canada's intelligence agency, CSIS, acknowledges that Khalistani terrorists are using Canadian territory to promote their agenda and plan violence targeting India. This marks a shift in tone from Ottawa, lending credence to India's concerns about anti-India actors operating from Canadian soil.
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India-Canada relations and the Nijjar case
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For the first time, Canada's premier intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has officially acknowledged that Khalistani terrorists are using Canadian territory to promote their agenda, raise funds, and plan violent activities targeting India.In its annual report released on Wednesday, CSIS stated: 'Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.'This marks a significant shift in tone from Ottawa, which had previously been accused by India of ignoring the threat posed by Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil. The report lends credence to India's long-standing concerns, effectively confirming that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements.The CSIS report also highlighted that Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) in Canada has largely been driven by Canada-Based Khalistan i Extremists (CBKEs) seeking to establish an independent Khalistan, primarily within India's Punjab state.'A small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India,' the report noted.'In particular, real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada.'This development comes just a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney , met on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Both leaders agreed to take "calibrated steps to restore stability to the relationship" and announced the reinstatement of high commissioners in each other's capitals.According to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister's Office, the leaders discussed resuming regular services for citizens and businesses, as part of efforts to normalize strained diplomatic ties.The CSIS report warns of both foreign influence campaigns and domestic extremist financing networks, underlining the need for sustained vigilance.'These activities attempt to steer Canada's positions into alignment with India's interests on key issues, particularly with respect to how the Indian government perceives Canada-based supporters of an independent homeland that they call Khalistan,' the report added.The sensitive revelations in the report have once again placed a spotlight on foreign interference and extremist activity in Canada, especially in light of last year's allegations made by then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau In 2023, Trudeau claimed his government had "credible allegations" linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , a designated Khalistani terrorist, who was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18, 2023.India strongly denied the allegation, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated,' and accused Canada of allowing extremist and anti-India groups to operate unchecked. The diplomatic fallout saw India recalling six of its diplomats from Canada after they were named 'persons of interest' in the ongoing probe into Nijjar's killing.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Carney's decision to invite Modi to the G7 Summit has drawn criticism from Sikh community leaders and even members of his own party. Responding to the backlash, Carney defended the move by pointing to India's geopolitical importance.'India is the world's fourth-largest economy and the most populous country. It's a critical partner in solving global challenges,' Carney said.With inputs from ANI
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