“Engagement of Pakistan is consistently in balance with trying to reduce the influence of India,” said Lloyd. Moreover, she added, “The influence of Pakistan is directly related to the support of Khalistani extremism”, indicating that Pakistan may be amplifying other voices and groups to further its strategic interests against its neighbour.
To lead attorney Shantona Chaudhury question if Pakistan “attempted to clandestinely influence federal politics, to further the Government of Pakistan’s interests in India,” Bo Basler, the Counter Foreign Interference Coordinator (CFIC) for CSIS confirmed that Pakistan was involved where it worked to support a candidate and Elections Canada and the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections (OCCE) were aware of such information.
These revelations came to the fore during a recent set of hearings that began on September 16. The Foreign Interference Commission aims to uncover the extent of foreign meddling that may have influenced the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, particularly concerning the experiences of various diaspora communities in Canada.