‘Khalistani extremists continue to exploit Canadian soil to promote, fund, and plan violent activities primarily targeting India’, this has now been confirmed by Canada’s own intelligence agency, Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), something New Delhi has been stating for a long time.
CSIS released its annual report on June 18, outlining key concerns and threats to Canada’s national security. The report clearly states: “Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising, or planning of violence primarily in India.”
India has been raising concerns about Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil for years, but Canada had largely turned a blind eye to the issue. The CSIS report has now confirmed that Canada has become a safe haven for anti-India elements, thereby validating India’s long-standing concerns.
This report comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney “agreed to take calibrated steps to restore stability to the relationship” and decided to reinstate High Commissioners in 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 with a view to resuming regular services for citizens and businesses in both countries, according to a press release from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office.
The Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE) threat in Canada has primarily manifested through Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs), who seek to create an independent nation-state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab in India.
The report noted that since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada has been primarily linked to 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,” the report states.
It is important to highlight that the Khalistani narrative in Canada has collapsed drastically over the last six months, and the political base supporting these sentiments has eroded significantly. Trudeau’s minority government, which depended on Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party for survival, collapsed in the 2025 elections. Singh, who was seen as a pro-Khalistan figure, led his party to its worst-ever performance, an indication that the Khalistani movement is losing political legitimacy even within Canada.
This change is also visible in Ottawa’s new outreach. Mark Carney, an economist by background, understands the geopolitical and economic imperatives of engaging with India, not just as desirable, but as necessary. Moreover, his government does not rely on Khalistani extremists for political support.
Carney’s invitation to PM Modi to attend the G7 Summit was not a mere formality. It followed a phone call between the two leaders on June 6, during which both sides agreed to resume “law enforcement dialogue and discussions addressing security concerns.” A statement from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office described the agreement as “progress.”
It is worth recalling that relations between India and Canada soured following Justin Trudeau’s public allegations against India in connection with the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Trudeau’s Government was supported by Jagmeet Singh and his party, which had strong Khalistani leanings. However, the 2025 elections dealt a heavy blow to the New Democratic Party, reducing it to its lowest tally ever.
Speaking ahead of the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Carney emphasised that the summit would focus on key global issues, including security and energy. He also stated that India’s participation was essential, as it is “central to a number of supply chains.”
Notably, before the commencement of the G7 Summit, Khalistani extremists staged a massive protest in Calgary against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Thousands of Khalistani supporters took to the streets, waving Khalistan flags and chanting slogans against India and Hindus.
In response, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri lashed out at the pro-Khalistan protestors, describing them as “kiraye ke tatto” (rented protestors) and said they should not be taken seriously.
He further hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Canada, calling it a “hard slap” to Khalistani extremist forces and noting that it would help address the “shortcomings and problems” in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Khalistan movement: Obstacle in India-Canada relations
Commenting on the matter, Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman described PM Modi’s visit to the G7 as a “significant” development with implications for domestic politics, trade, and the country’s handling of extremism.
Bordman noted that the Khalistan movement remains a major roadblock in bilateral ties. He asserted that Canada’s past leniency toward Sikh separatist groups operating within its borders, allegedly funded by Pakistan is perceived by India as support for terrorism and the Balkanisation of India.
“It is pretty significant for Canada because, for the last 10 years, Canadian politics has been defined externally by chaos and bad actors, and internally by buffoonery… Canadians are happy to have a Prime Minister who speaks in full sentences and counts to ten without his fingers,” said Bordman.
He views PM Modi’s visit as a turning point in Canada’s approach to the Khalistan issue. By engaging with India, Canada is gradually distancing itself from its earlier permissive stance toward terrorists and separatists.
