Canada Labels ‘Khalistani Extremists’ as a National Security Threat

Significantly, in a major intelligence report, Canada described “Khalistani extremists” as a threat to national security. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, also known as CSIS, stated in its annual report to Parliament that “even though there were no attacks in Canada in 2024 related to Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs), CBKEs’ continued involvement in violent activities continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests.” For the first time, Canada has referred to Khalistanis as “extremists.” Over the years, India has voiced its concerns over the presence of Khalistani militants in Canada.

According to the Canadian study, “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”.

India has frequently urged Canada to take action against Khalistani extremist forces. It has even given Canada a list of more than 20 extradition petitions, many of which involve individuals connected to Indian terrorism and violence. India’s concerns about Canada serving as a hub for such activities were heightened by the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight by Khalistani radicals, which claimed 329 lives.

The report said, Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to “use and support violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab, India” and that, “real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada”.

India’s long-standing worries over the matter will be allayed by Canada’s acknowledgement.

On the fringes of the G7 Summit in Alberta, PM Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney held bilateral discussions the day before. Following the bilateral, among other important decisions, both parties agreed to begin trade deal discussions and assign new high commissioners to each other’s capitals. Following Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s accusation of the Indian government’s involvement in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s murder—despite the fact that no concrete evidence was ever presented—ties between the two countries were in ruins. Carney, the new prime minister, has stated that he wants to strengthen relations with India.

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