 "Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands before posing for a photo during the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, in Alberta, Canada, June 17, 2025. Reuters")
Canada’s intelligence agency, CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service), has finally acknowledged India’s concerns regarding activities of the extremist Khalistani group on Canadian soil.
In an annual threat assessment report released Wednesday (June 18), the CSIS noted that violent elements linked to the Khalistan movement remain active in Canada.
“Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India," the report notes.
The report acknowledges that these elements seek to use “violent means” to establish an independent nation-state—Khalistan—largely within India’s Punjab region.
However, the report also warned that India continued to be a “foreign interference concern” and that Ottawa needed to remain ‘cautious'.
The report was published as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Canada after a decade to attend the G7 Summit at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney.
The report stated that these Khalistani groups were planning to stage massive protests in the wake of PM Modi’s arrival in Canada.
This development raised concerns among Indian authorities. According to reports, the Indian intelligence agencies had warned their Canadian counterparts of these potential threats and had asked for stringent security measures for the Indian delegation.
Modi-Carney meet
In a major sign of thaw in bilateral ties, PM Modi on Wednesday met with Carney on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit. The meeting paved the way for the improvement of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Both nations also announced to fully restore their diplomatic relations and appoint new high commissioners.
In 2024, former Canada PM Justin Trudeau made damning allegations against Indian diplomats, accusing them of backing criminal harassment and violence against Canadians. Trudeau also accused the Indian government of orchestrating the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist, on Canadian soil.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“It is obvious that the government of India made a fundamental error in thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil, whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts,” Trudeau had announced.
PM Modi’s visit to Canada has now laid the ground for a reset in ties as both nations seek to repair relations.
After meeting with the Canada PM, PM Modi said the discussions were “excellent” and stressed that India and Canada are connected by a strong belief in democracy, freedom and rule of law."
PM Carney, meanwhile, said it was his “great honour” to welcome Modi at the G7 Summit.
“It’s a testament to the importance of your country, to your leadership, and to the importance of the issues that we look to tackle together- from energy security and AI to the fight against transnational repression and terrorism," Mark Carney said.