Ottawah: Canada’s top intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has formally acknowledged for the first time that the Khalistani extremists are operating from Canadian soil to promote their agenda. According to the agency, such extremists raise funds and plan acts of violence in India. This was mentioned in the agency’s annual report published on Wednesday, highlighting some key concerns and threats to Canada’s national security.
The CSIS report states, “Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.” This comes at a time when India has long voiced concerns over Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil. In the past, Canada had largely ignored or overlooked the issue.
What did the report say
The report confirmed that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements. It validated India’s concerns that have been raised for years.
This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney “agreed to take calibrated steps to restore stability to the relationship.” Both countries decided to restore High Commissioners to each other’s capitals.
At the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both leaders agreed to designate new high commissioners to return to regular services to citizens and businesses in both countries. This was stated in the press released from the Prime Minister of Canada.
The Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) threat in Canada has manifested primarily through Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to create Khalistan, largely within Punjab in India.
The report noted that since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has manifested primarily through CBKEs. “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. In particular, real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada,” the report reads.
