Canada Admits Khalistan Extremism, But Still Points Finger At India
India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI— Canada’s intelligence agency has, for the first time, officially acknowledged that Khalistani extremists are operating from Canadian soil — even as the same report accuses India of foreign interference and links it to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), in its latest annual public report, states that Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for promoting, fundraising, and planning violent acts — primarily targeting India. This is the first official admission by CSIS of such activity and the first time the term “extremism” has been used in relation to Khalistanis in an official Canadian document.
The report has reignited debate over Canada’s handling of foreign interference and extremist activity, particularly in the context of its strained diplomatic relationship with India. For years, New Delhi has raised concerns over the presence of Khalistani separatists in Canada, alleging that Ottawa has turned a blind eye. With CSIS now confirming these operations, Indian officials and media view the report as validating what India has long maintained — that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements.
The timing is notable. The CSIS report comes just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met for the first time in person during the G7 summit in Canada. Their meeting was seen as a key moment toward easing diplomatic tensions, which worsened after Nijjar’s killing in British Columbia in 2023.
Different Focus in Western Media
Western coverage of the same CSIS report has highlighted a different angle: India being named among the “main perpetrators” of foreign interference and espionage, alongside China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan.
The report calls alleged links between the Government of India and Nijjar’s killing a “significant escalation” in efforts to suppress the Khalistan movement and an indication of intent to target individuals in North America. It also warns that Canada must remain alert to continued foreign interference by India — not just within ethnic and religious communities, but also in its political system.
The CSIS report also names China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan alongside India as leading actors in foreign interference and espionage operations targeting Canada.
