Ottawa: Canada’s top intelligence agency - the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) - has officially made a public disclosure for the first time that Khalistani extremists continue to use Canadian soil as a base for promoting, fundraising and planning acts of violence primarily targeting India.
The agency's latest report categorically states: "Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India."
This revelation, part of CSIS's latest annual report, has reignited concerns about foreign interference and extremist activity within Canada, particularly in the context of its sensitive diplomatic relationship with India. For several years India has been raising concerns over Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil, but Canada had largely turned a blind eye towards this issue.
Also, this is the first time the term "extremism" has been officially used by Canada in relation to the Khalistanis.
There is a long history of India arguing that Canada is a haven for 'anti-India' activity, with the separatist Khalistan movement being a particular focus of India's concern, which is rooted in the aftermath of the 1985 Air India bombing and subsequent terrorist activity in India.
The report’s release coincided with the first face-to-face meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his newly appointed Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, at the G7 summit.
