Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said in its 2025 report, tabled in Parliament, that Khalistani elements based in Canada continue to advance a violent extremist agenda and pose a national security threat.
The report noted the 40th anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, whose suspects were members of Canada-based Khalistani extremist (CBKE) groups. That attack remains the deadliest in Canadian history, killing 329 people, most of them Canadians. CSIS said there were no CBKE-related attacks in Canada in 2025.
“Ongoing involvement in violent extremist activities by CBKEs continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and to Canadian interests,” the report said. It added that some CBKEs are well connected to Canadian citizens who use Canadian institutions to promote violent agendas and raise funds from unsuspecting community members that are diverted to violent activities.
The report also assessed that several foreign states interfered in Canada’s internal politics through espionage and other activities. While the People’s Republic of China, India, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Pakistan were identified as main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage in 2025, CSIS warned that an increasingly multipolar environment means other states also seek to interfere.
Regarding India, the report said it has historically cultivated covert relationships with Canadian politicians, journalists, and members of the Indo‑Canadian community to exert influence and advance its interests. This has included transnational repression (TNR) activities—such as surveillance and coercive tactics—aimed at suppressing criticism of the Government of India and creating fear in the community. Given the presence in Canada of supporters of the Khalistan separatist movement, the report urged vigilance for potential TNR activities. It also noted that in Canada, advocacy for Khalistan separatism is lawful political activity.
The CSIS assessment reflects 2025 intelligence. The account appeared to shift after Mark Carney became Prime Minister and visited India earlier in 2026, with Canadian officials saying they believe India is not currently linked to violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil. RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme endorsed that view, saying there is no threat to Canada from any agent linked to India and that, in some transnational repression cases, “the dots don’t always connect to a foreign entity.”
India and Canada’s relations deteriorated amid concerns over Canada’s perceived leniency toward Khalistani separatist elements and Ottawa’s 2023 allegation that Indian agents were involved in the killing of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada. India rejected those allegations as “politically motivated.”
