Ottawa, June 19 – For the first time, Canada’s premier intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, has officially acknowledged that Khalistani separatists are using Canadian soil to fuel, fund and plan violence in India. CSIS released its annual report on Wednesday, highlighting some of the key concerns and threats to Canada’s national security.
“Khalistani separatists continue to use Canada primarily as a base to fuel, fund or plan violence in India,” the report by Canada’s intelligence agency, CSIS, clearly states. India has been raising concerns about Khalistani separatists operating from Canadian soil for years, but Canada has largely turned a blind eye to the issue.
The CSIS report has confirmed that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements, confirming India’s concerns raised over the years.
The report said that since the mid-1980s, the threat of PMVE in Canada has been primarily posed by CBKEs. The threat of politically motivated violent separatism (PMVE) in Canada has been primarily posed by Canada-based Khalistani separatists (CBKEs), who are seeking to create an independent nation-state called Khalistan within Punjab in India.
The report states, “A small group of individuals are considered Khalistani separatists because they continue to use Canada as a base primarily to promote, fund, or plan violence in India. In particular, the real and perceived Khalistani separatist movement emerging from Canada continues to fuel Indian foreign interference activities in Canada.’’
The revelations in this latest annual report by CSIS have reignited concerns about foreign interference and separatist activities within Canada, particularly in the context of its sensitive diplomatic relations with India. Canada’s own intelligence has confirmed what New Delhi has long said is that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements.
The report calls for continued vigilance against both external influence campaigns and domestic separatist financing networks. The report added, “These activities attempt to align Canada’s positions with India’s interests on key issues, particularly how the Indian government views supporters of a Canada-based independent state they call Khalistan.”
“The connection between the Indian government and the Nijjar murders represents a significant escalation in India’s repressive efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America,” the report said. “Real and perceived Khalistani separatism emanating from Canada continues to fuel Indian foreign interference activities in Canada.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has faced criticism for inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit. Some Sikh advocates and his own parliamentarians have expressed displeasure over this. However, Carney defended his decision, citing India’s importance in global affairs.
Carney was referring to India’s role as the world’s fourth-largest economy and most populous country. Emphasized status in the form, making it an important player in solving global challenges.