Pro-Khalistan extremism a risk to Canada, says spy company in report

Jun 20, 2025 03:28 AM IST India-Canada ties soured after ex-PM Justin Trudeau alleged in Sept 2023 that Indian brokers have been concerned within the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar. Canada’s spy company has mentioned that India’s alleged overseas interference actions have been pushed by considerations of pro-Khalistan extremism rising from Canada, acknowledging that some extremists use Canada as a base for planning violence in India. The CSIS annual report was tabled within the House of Commons on Friday and revealed on Wednesday (ANI) The admission is within the part on Politically Motivated Religious Extremism or PMVE within the Canadian Security Intelligence Service or CSIS’ annual report back to Parliament for 2024, which was tabled within the House of Commons on Friday however solely revealed publicly on Wednesday. “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 report mentioned. “While there were no CBKE-related attacks in Canada in 2024, ongoing involvement in violent activities by CBKEs continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests. In particular, real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada,” the report famous. “Some Canadians participate in legitimate and peaceful campaigning to support the Khalistan movement. Non-violent advocacy for an independent state of Khalistan is not considered extremism. Only 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,” it added, in a major official acceptance by Canada of its territory getting used to doubtlessly foment terrorism in India. Such a reference to Khalistani extremism was lacking from the report for 2023. The report additionally made the allegations of Indian interference in Canada, although, for the primary time, it additionally underlined what motivates such alleged exercise. “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 said. “The main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against Canada include the PRC (People’s Republic of China) , India, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran,” it mentioned. The recognition that violence focusing on India could also be funded and deliberate from Canada was not the primary this yr because the tenor of official experiences has modified since Justin Trudeau’s announcement in January that he was going to resign as Prime Minister. The ultimate report of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, which is headed by Justice Marie-Josee Hogue, and launched on January 28, said that in keeping with CSIS “India has some legitimate basis for concerns about the security threat posed by Khalistani extremism in Canada. Some extremists have engaged in threat-related activities directed at India from within Canada, notably by coordinating and funding terrorist activities in India.” It added, as per CSIS, “the vast majority of Khalistan supporters are peaceful.” India-Canada ties nose-dived when former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged in September 2023 that Indian brokers have been linked to the homicide of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the cost as “absurd” and subsequently accused the Canadian authorities of giving house to separatists and radical parts that pose a risk to Indian diplomats and pursuits. As bilateral ties hit an all-time low over the previous yr, each side expelled diplomats and downgraded ties. Following Mark Carney’s appointment as Canadian PM on March 14, the 2 sides have been in contact on the stage of leaders and senior officers. There have additionally been conferences between senior safety officers, together with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the Indian facet and the National Security Intelligence Advisor, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Canadian Security Intelligence Services on the Canadian facet.