Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police appears to have revised its public posture on foreign involvement in harassment and intimidation cases, moving from an earlier denial to a more cautious acknowledgement.
On March 19 RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme told CTV News that in files related to transnational repression and foreign interference “we’re not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity,” and that investigators could not yet “connect the dots to a foreign entity.” In a follow-up statement on April 1 the RCMP said it was “aware of complaints of intimidation and harassment against certain communities across Canada” and that the force and the Government of Canada “are also aware that foreign states are engaging in such activities in Canada.” The statement added that “establishing a direct link to a foreign entity with information that can be disclosed in a criminal proceeding is a complex process.”
The shift comes against the backdrop of strained Canada–India relations since the 2023 killing in British Columbia of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian authorities, including the RCMP, have suggested possible involvement of Indian agents or proxies in violence and extortion targeting Sikh separatist figures, and pointed to the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a purported proxy network. Ottawa designated the Bishnoi network as a terrorist entity in September 2025. New Delhi has consistently rejected state-involvement allegations as baseless and politically motivated, while urging Canada to crack down on Khalistani extremists and pursuing extradition requests linked to the Bishnoi group.
Commissioner Duheme has also warned that some extortion threats may come from “copycats” invoking the Bishnoi name without real ties. Observers in New Delhi have interpreted the RCMP’s later clarification as a constructive signal as both countries work to rebuild relations.
Diplomatic ties have been gradually restored since the 2025 downturn: high commissioners were reinstated in September 2025, national security and foreign ministers have held high-level talks, an October 2025 joint “New Roadmap” outlined cooperation on trade and security, and a Leaders’ Statement on March 2, 2026, reaffirmed commitments and signalled progress toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
