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Canada’s Canadian Security Intelligence Service says Khalistani extremists remain a security threat, though no attacks occurred in 2025. It also flags foreign interference risks, including India, while noting such separatist advocacy is legal in Canada.
A file image of Khalistani supporters in Canada(AFP)An annual report of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), released on Friday (local time), has revealed that Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) continue to "pose a national security threat" to the country and its interests.
In the 2025 annual report, the CSIS said, "Ongoing involvement in violent extremist activities by CBKEs continues to pose a national security threat to Canada and to Canadian interests," and added that "some CBKEs are well connected to Canadian citizens who leverage Canadian institutions to promote their violent extremist agenda and collect funds from unsuspecting community members that are then diverted toward violent activities."
What did the report reveal?
The report noted that there were no CBKE-related attacks in Canada in 2025 and added that some Canadians “participate in legitimate and peaceful campaigning to support the Khalistan separatist movement.”
It further pointed out that only a small group of people who use Ottawa as a base to promote, fundraise, or plan activities primarily in India are considered Khalistani extremists.
Canada's intelligence agency based its remarks on CBKEs by highlighting that 2025 marked the 40th anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka) bombing, in which the suspects were pro-Khalistani extremists. The agency called it the "deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history," with 329 people killed, most of them Canadians.
Concerns about the presence of CBKEs in Ottawa were echoed in the 2024 report, the first issued after Mark Carney became Prime Minister. However, references to pro-Khalistan extremism had been absent from reports since 2018, when Justin Trudeau was in office.
The group was named under the category of politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE), which CSIS noted “encourages the use of violence to establish new political systems, or new structures or norms within existing systems.”
CSIS declares the Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity
The intelligence agency added that it continues to oversee emerging threats and contribute to the Government of Canada's terrorist listing process. Additionally, in 2025, as many as 12 groups were added as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code, including transnational criminal organisations such as cartels, the Bishnoi Gang, 764, Maniac Murder Cult, Terrorgram Collective, and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS, also known as DAESH) affiliate, Islamic State-Mozambique.
India among main perpetrators of foreign interference in Canada
CSIS continued to include India in the list of "main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage against Canada." The list also includes China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan. However, in 2025, it added that several states, their intelligence services, and other affiliated organizations engaged in foreign interference and espionage activities in Canada, though the countries involved were not named.
The report also included India and said that it counters perceived threats to its domestic stability, including Khalistan separatism. In Canada, however, advocacy for Khalistan separatism is considered a lawful political activity.
While New Delhi has denied all allegations of its involvement in issues on Canadian soil, such allegations rose during Trudeau's tenure but have since subsided.
In recent times, several prominent Canadian officials have downplayed India's alleged interference in Ottawa's affairs. Before Carney's bilateral visit to India earlier this year, a senior government official, during the course of a background briefing, said that the country no longer suspected India of interfering in Ottawa's democratic processes or being involved in targeted violence in the country.
Key Takeaways
- Khalistani extremists are recognized by CSIS as a national security threat despite lawful advocacy for separatism.
- The report reflects a shifting narrative regarding foreign interference, particularly involving India.
- The absence of recent attacks does not diminish the potential threat posed by a small group of extremists.
About the Author
Swati Gandhi
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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