Canada labels Sikh extremism a threat while accusing India of meddling

A report from Canada’s spy agency that identifies Khalistani extremism as a national security threat may accelerate a diplomatic reset with India, even as analysts say allegations of interference by New Delhi continue to cloud the relationship.

Delhi has long complained that a small number of Sikh separatist extremists have used Canadian soil to organise, raise funds and support violence connected to the push for “Khalistan”, a proposed independent Sikh state in India’s Punjab.

The report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), put before parliament on May 1, acknowledged this fact while drawing a distinction between lawful political advocacy for Khalistan and violent extremism.

Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesman for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters at a weekly media briefing on Thursday last week that the CSIS report confirmed that Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups posed a national security threat not only to India but to Canada itself.

Observers said the report’s tone hinted at further improvements to bilateral relations, particularly as Prime Minister Mark Carney has pursued a broader diplomatic and economic reset with India.

  

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