News Brief
Canada’s Spy Agency Validates India’s Concern On Khalistani Extremism Days After Modi–Carney G7 Talks—All You Need To Know
Khalistani protesters (File Photo) (Representative Image)
In a significant admission that aligns with India’s long-standing warnings, Canada’s top intelligence agency has officially confirmed that Khalistani extremists continue to exploit Canadian soil to promote, fundraise, and orchestrate violent activities primarily targeting India, Times of India reported.
The revelation comes from the 2024 annual report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), marking the first time the agency has so clearly and publicly acknowledged the role of Canada-based Khalistani elements in fueling overseas violence.
The report states that Khalistani extremists "continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India".
CSIS traces the origins of the Khalistani threat back to the 1980s, describing the evolution of Canada-Based Khalistani Extremists (CBKEs) as a politically motivated violent extremist movement aiming to carve out an independent Khalistan, largely within Punjab, India.
While the report notes that the number of violent actors is limited, it affirms that a small but active Khalistani faction continues to engage in violent methods, distinguishing them from individuals engaged in peaceful advocacy.
"Since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to use and support violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab, India," the CSIS report said.
"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 said.
The report adds that Canada-based Khalistani extremists' ongoing involvement in violent activities “poses a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests".
The CSIS acknowledgment of Khalistani activities in Canada comes against the backdrop of the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist, in British Columbia.
The then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in Nijjar's murder— a charge New Delhi dismissed as “absurd" and "politically motivated" turning the spotlight instead on Canada’s tolerance of anti-India elements.
This latest CSIS report now appears to corroborate India’s core concern: that Canadian soil is being misused by extremist elements to destabilise its national security.
Despite the undercurrent of tension in India-Canada relations, there are signs of diplomatic thaw.
At the recent G7 Summit in Alberta earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both leaders agreeing to restore diplomatic channels.
Plans to appoint new high commissioners and resume trade talks were announced.
Facing criticism from some Sikh advocacy groups and Canadian MPs for extending the G7 invitation to PM Modi, Carney defended the decision, citing India’s global economic importance and the value of engagement.
