Ottawa: Canada’s premier intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has officially recognized that a small segment of Khalistani extremists operating within the country continue to present a threat to national security. These individuals, CSIS warns, are exploiting Canadian territory to promote, finance, or coordinate violent activities, with India as their primary target.
In its latest annual report to Parliament, CSIS categorized this threat under the broader umbrella of politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE). This form of extremism involves the use of violence to alter or overthrow existing political systems and structures.
“Only a small number of individuals are classified as Khalistani extremists,” the report stated. “They are involved in activities aimed at supporting or inciting violence, primarily directed at India, using Canada as a platform.”
CSIS noted that since the 1980s, this form of extremism has manifested most prominently through Khalistani elements advocating for the creation of an independent Sikh state—Khalistan—in India’s Punjab region.
While no attacks linked to these extremists were reported within Canada in 2024, CSIS emphasized that the threat remains persistent. “The absence of incidents on Canadian soil does not equate to the elimination of risk,” the agency warned, noting continued involvement in violent international activities.
The intelligence agency also outlined its contributions to counterterrorism efforts, including its role in identifying emerging security threats and advising the federal government on the designation of terrorist entities. The report mentioned that in October 2024, Samidoun, also known as the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, was added to Canada’s official list of terrorist organizations.
Further, in December 2024, the government designated Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansarallah) as a terrorist entity, citing its repeated attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea. The group is known to have strong ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Hezbollah, both of which are already listed as terrorist entities in Canada.
CSIS concluded by reaffirming its commitment to monitoring these threats and safeguarding Canadian interests at home and abroad.
