New Delhi: Khalistani extremists are using Canada as its base for promoting, funding and planning violent activities primarily targeting India, Canada’s top intelligence agency — the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) — said in first official acknowledgment.
In its annual report to parliament, the agency categorically said that Khalistani extremists continue to “use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.” The report noted that individuals and networks associated with the Khalistan movement remain active in Canada.
The Canadian agency said that these extremist elements support or seek to use violent means to establish an independent nation state Khalistan largely within India’s Punjab region. It also said that the Khalistani extremists continue to pose a national security threat to “Canada and Canadian interests.”
The report comes at a time India and Canada are looking to renew their diplomatic relation that nosedived during the rule of the Justin Trudeau government. The recent meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, at the G7 summit also signalled a reset of ties between the two countries.
Ties between India and Canada came under strain in 2023 following Justin Trudeau’s allegations of India’s potential link to the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India vehemently refuted the charges as “politically motivated” and “absurd”. The tension between the two countries escalated after withdrawal of diplomats. On Tuesday, India and Canada agreed to designate new high commissioners with a view to returning to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries.
