A recent report from Canada’s intelligence agency classifies Khalistani extremism as a national security issue, which could lead to a diplomatic shift with India. However, experts note that claims of interference from New Delhi still complicate the relationship. India has repeatedly expressed frustration that a small group of Sikh separatist extremists have used Canadian territory to plan, fundraise, and promote violence related to the push for “Khalistan,” an envisioned independent Sikh state in Punjab. The report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), presented to parliament on May 1, acknowledged this concern while differentiating between legitimate political advocacy for Khalistan and acts of violent extremism. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters during a weekly media briefing last Thursday that the CSIS report validated that Khalistani extremist groups based in Canada pose a national security threat not only to India but also to Canada itself. 03:15 Canadian PM says authorities investigating ‘credible’ links to India on Sikh leader’s murder Canadian PM says authorities investigating ‘credible’ links to India on Sikh leader’s murder Observers noted that the tone of the report suggests potential progress in bilateral relations, especially since Prime Minister Mark Carney has been advocating for a broader diplomatic and economic reset with India.
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