Canada 'must remain vigilant' about Indian foreign interference, CSIS report cautions

Canada's spy agency is warning that India's government continues to be a foreign interference concern a day after the two countries agreed to reinstate their top diplomats.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) released its annual report on Wednesday, outlining some key concerns and threats to Canada's national security.

India was listed as a potential source of foreign interference activities, alongside Russia, China and Iran.

"Canada must remain vigilant about continued foreign interference conducted by the Government of India, not only within ethnic, religious and cultural communities but also in Canada's political system," the report reads.

The CSIS report comes just a day after Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to reinstate their high commissioners and are eyeing renewed visa services to each other's citizens and businesses.

The two countries expelled each other's high commissioners, senior diplomats who are similar to ambassadors, last fall after the RCMP accused the Indian government of playing a role in a network of violence in Canada, including homicides and extortion.

Most significantly, the RCMP have alleged Indian agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Canadian Khalistani separatist who was brazenly gunned down outside a Sikh temple in B.C. in 2023.

Nijjar and others in that movement have been calling for an independent Sikh homeland in northern India called Khalistan, which Modi's government has vigorously opposed and denounced as a national security threat.

"Links between the Government of India and the Nijjar murder signals a significant escalation in India's repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America," Wednesday's report reads.

It notes that in Canada, "a small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists," but that doesn't extend to those who take part in "legitimate and peaceful campaigning to support the Khalistan movement."

"Real and perceived Khalistani extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive Indian foreign interference activities in Canada," the report says.

Carney faced backlash — from Sikh advocates and some of his own MPs — for inviting Modi to this week's G7 summit.

Carney has defended the invitation, saying it makes sense to have the leader of the world's most populous country around the table when there are "big challenges" to discuss.

Gurpreet Sahota, the editor-in-chief at Channel Punjabi in Surrey, B.C., said members of his community feel "betrayed" after Carney agreed to reinstate the high commissioner without securing more co-operation from the Indian government.

"They are thinking that the Canadian government is more focusing on [the] economy than public safety," Sahota told CBC News.

According to the prime minister's readout, Carney raised "transnational crime and repression, security and the rules-based order" with Modi during their meeting on Tuesday.

"He's talking about transnational repression, terrorism and Indian gangs. But he's very eager to go for the business first. So when people sitting in Surrey or Brampton, [Ont.], see Mr. Carney, they feel that he's more eager to do business than to take accountability," Sahota said.

WATCH | Public safety minister on threats from India:

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree responded to questions Tuesday about a CSIS report listing India as a top country for foreign interference in Canada. Anandasangaree also said proper security processes need to be followed if India's Lawrence Bishnoi gang is to be designated a terrorist entity.

Asked during the closing G7 news conference what he said to Modi about Nijjar's murder on Canadian soil, Carney did not directly answer.

"We have had a discussion, the prime minister and I, about the importance of having the law enforcement-to-law enforcement dialogue. Not just dialogue, but co-operation," the prime minister said.

Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat and current adviser for the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, said the federal government can re-engage with India while also taking a firm stance on foreign interference.

"I think that this government does mean business," he said. "Whenever there's any indication that they're stepping out of line, we've got the capacity now through CSIS, the RCMP and other intelligence agencies to basically call them out."

B.C. Premier David Eby said Tuesday that he wants the India-based Lawrence Bishnoi gang declared a terrorist organization in Canada due to their alleged links to criminal activities.

Police in Surrey have said members of the South Asian community are being extorted under threat of death or violence, with the Bishnoi gang being linked to some of those threats.

WATCH | B.C. premier responds to extortion reports:

B.C. Premier Eby responds to reports of extortion in Surrey

Eby said he would be writing to Carney to ask that the gang be given the terrorist designation "to enable police to be able to use the necessary tools to investigate."

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Wednesday that he has taken note of Eby's comments but hasn't received an official request.

"This is an independent process that goes through our public security agencies and upon their recommendation, I will be able to take that decision to cabinet," he told reporters on Parliament Hill.

MP Jenny Kwan, the NDP public safety critic, also wrote to Carney on Wednesday calling for the government to list the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group. She urged Carney to suspend any security and intelligence-sharing agreements with India.