New Delhi: Politically motivated violent extremism threat in Canada since mid-1980s has manifested through Khalistani extremists seeking to use violent means to create an independent nation state called Khalistan within India’s Punjab, a report by Ottawa’s intelligence agency has said.
It said a small group of Khalistani extremists are continuing to use Canada as a base for fundraising and planning of violence primarily in India.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s report for 2024 was released on Wednesday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney with a focus on rebuilding bilateral ties that plummeted to an all-time low following a diplomatic spat over the killing of a Khalistani separatist.
This is a rare but candid admission by Canada’s top intelligence body, reflecting mounting concerns that Canadian soil is being exploited to support foreign extremist agendas, especially to target India.
The report notes that since the 1980s, Canada has witnessed sustained efforts by Khalistani actors seeking to carve out an independent Sikh state, Khalistan, from Punjab and that some among them are willing to use violent means to achieve their aim.
Although CSIS confirmed that no CBKE-linked attacks were recorded on Canadian soil in 2024, it warned that the threat remains very much alive.
“Ongoing involvement in violent activities by CBKEs continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian interests,” the agency stated, calling for the need for vigilance even in the absence of domestic incidents.
Beyond the Khalistani issue, the report also offered a broader snapshot of global extremism and its ripple effects in Canada. CSIS highlighted its role in identifying and supporting the government’s listing of terrorist organisations. Among notable developments, the agency pointed out that Samidoun — the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network — was officially designated a terrorist entity in October 2024. Just two months later, the Yemen-based group Ansarallah, popularly known as the Houthis, was also added to Canada’s list of terrorist entities.
The report underscored the Houthis’ aggressive behavior, especially in the Red Sea, where the group was responsible for numerous attacks on maritime vessels. CSIS noted that the group is closely linked to the IRGC-Quds Force and Hezbollah, both of which are already classified as terrorist entities in Canada.
