Canada Finally Confronts Khalistani Extremism

 Poonam Sharma
In a development that marks a seismic shift in the diplomatic dynamics between India and Canada, the 2024 annual report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has finally confirmed what India has been asserting for years: Khalistani extremists are using Canadian soil to promote, fund, and plan violence against India.

This is not just a matter of internal Canadian policy anymore—it is a wake-up call for the global community. But beyond the sensational headlines lies a story of evolving diplomacy, strategic recalibration, and most importantly, a major victory for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consistent pressure on the international stage.

CSIS Acknowledges: A Long-Standing Indian Concern Validated
The CSIS report’s wording is unequivocal: “Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.” This statement lays bare a reality that New Delhi has flagged repeatedly—often to skeptical ears in the West. The report further specifies that while most Sikh Canadians are peaceful and law-abiding, a small radicalized faction is weaponizing Canadian liberties to pursue a separatist agenda thousands of miles away.

The acknowledgment is historic. It is the first time Canada’s top intelligence body has gone public with such direct recognition of the Khalistani threat—and it is no coincidence that this happens at a time when India’s global clout, particularly under Modi’s leadership, is at its peak.

Modi’s Diplomacy Bears Fruit
Over the past few years, Prime Minister Modi has adopted a bold, no-compromise posture when it comes to terrorism and separatism. Whether it’s cross-border terrorism from Pakistan or the soft-power terrorism of diaspora-backed extremism, Modi has drawn clear red lines.

When Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hosted Modi at the 2025 G7 Summit in Alberta, it was more than a symbolic moment. Behind the photo-ops was a message: Canada is ready to repair ties and revisit its soft stance on Khalistani separatism. The summit led to a key diplomatic breakthrough—both nations agreed to reinstate high commissioners and resume comprehensive trade talks.

Importantly, this re-engagement came despite protests from Sikh advocacy groups and certain Canadian MPs who objected to Modi’s presence. Carney’s decision to proceed with the invitation, and to host a full bilateral discussion, was a calculated risk—and a diplomatic admission that India’s partnership cannot be jeopardized to appease fringe domestic lobbies.

From Mistrust to Strategic Cooperation
Until now, relations had plummeted after the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated Khalistani terrorist, in British Columbia. Canada publicly accused Indian agents of involvement—an accusation India rejected as “absurd and politically motivated.” The fallout was severe: diplomats expelled, talks frozen, and an unprecedented chill in bilateral trust.

But the CSIS report marks a reset.

By admitting the presence and activities of violent Khalistani factions on Canadian soil, Ottawa has acknowledged a key Indian grievance, laying the groundwork for a shift from blame games to mutual problem-solving.

Modi’s calculated patience and global positioning—at forums like G20, QUAD, and now G7—has allowed India to elevate its concerns on the international stage, forcing even previously reluctant allies to take note.

A Shared Challenge, A Joint Response
The CSIS report did state that no Khalistani-linked terrorist attack occurred in Canada in 2024. But the threat, as CSIS emphasized, is not local—it’s transnational. These extremist networks fundraise, recruit, and incite from Canada, while targeting Indian institutions and civilians thousands of miles away.

Now, with both countries back at the dialogue table, there’s an opportunity to create a robust framework for cooperation:

Real-time Intelligence Sharing: Both nations can build joint task forces to monitor extremist finances and digital propaganda.

Legal Reforms: Canada must revisit outdated protections that extremists misuse under the guise of free speech.

Community Outreach: Sikh communities must be engaged without stigmatization, ensuring that a radical minority does not hijack the image of an entire faith.

Independent Probes: The Nijjar incident must be resolved through transparent investigation, not media trials or political rhetoric.

The Modi Doctrine: Security First, Diplomacy Always
Modi’s global strategy has always revolved around three pillars—national security, economic growth, and international prestige. His tough messaging on terrorism has resonated far beyond India’s borders. Today, even liberal democracies like Canada are being forced to introspect about the cost of harboring extremist sympathizers under the cloak of multiculturalism.

Modi’s assertive diplomacy turned a once-dismissed claim into a validated international concern. From the United States to Australia, and now Canada, more and more countries are beginning to differentiate between diaspora engagement and diaspora-based extremism—a distinction India has long urged the world to make.

Looking Ahead: A Turning Point or a Temporary Truce?
The road ahead will not be without challenges. Political compulsions in Canada, particularly from Sikh-dominated constituencies, may hinder deeper action. But the ice has broken. The very fact that CSIS made its findings public—and that Prime Minister Carney still chose to meet Modi—speaks volumes.

For India, the message is clear: its concerns are finally being heard, and its diplomacy is finally being respected.

For Canada, the path forward requires balance—protecting civil liberties while preventing its territory from being used as a launchpad for foreign terrorism.

 Modi’s Persistence Reshapes the Narrative
In many ways, this moment is a vindication of Narendra Modi’s foreign policy vision. By refusing to stay silent, by consistently raising the Khalistan issue, and by refusing to normalize ties without red lines, Modi ensured that Canada could no longer afford to look away.

Today, thanks to sustained diplomatic pressure and undeniable global presence, India and Canada stand at a new crossroads—not of conflict, but of cooperation. The Khalistani threat may not vanish overnight, but its legitimacy has crumbled—and that, without doubt, is the beginning of its end.