Canada Accuses India of Espionage and Foreign Interference, CSIS Report Reveals

Canada’s intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has publicly accused India of conducting espionage and hostile foreign interference within its borders. This claim was detailed in the CSIS Public Report for 2023, highlighting concerns over such activities by India, among other nations.

A photograph accompanying the report shows the Canadian flag hoisted in front of the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, symbolizing the nation’s vigilance against foreign threats.

The report explicitly names India alongside China, Russia, and Iran as significant sources of foreign espionage and interference in Canada and the broader Western world. According to the 2023 document, these countries have persistently engaged in activities aimed at advancing their strategic interests, often at the expense of Canadian sovereignty and security.

In a notable section, CSIS Director David Vigneault addresses the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan activist, in Surrey, British Columbia, in June of the previous year. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in the House of Commons in September, acknowledged “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to Nijjar’s murder. Trudeau emphasized the Canadian government’s commitment to protecting its citizens and sovereignty, underscoring the importance of holding those responsible for such acts accountable.

The report also mentions a visit by Vigneault and then National Security Intelligence Adviser, Jody Thomas, to India to discuss these grave allegations with their Indian counterparts. Despite these discussions, the report notes a deterioration in Canada-India bilateral relations, marked by observed low-level cyber activities against Canada by India-aligned non-state actors. However, it clarifies that there is no evidence directly implicating the Indian government in these cyber incidents.

Furthermore, the CSIS report revisits concerns raised in its 2018 publication about the increase in activities within Canada aimed at supporting the Khalistan movement and targeting India. While these activities have primarily remained at a low level since their peak in the mid-1980s, there has been a recent uptick in such threat activities, posing risks not only to India but also to Canadian security.

The document underscores Canada’s obligation to investigate and counteract threats emanating from within its borders that target other nations, reaffirming its commitment to global security and the prevention of violent attacks worldwide.

This report comes amidst ongoing discussions and concerns over foreign interference in Canadian affairs, highlighting the complex and multifaceted nature of international relations and national security in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.