Canada’s national intelligence agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), has flagged Khalistani-linked elements as a violent extremist threat, warning that a small but persistent network of Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) continues to operate from within the country to promote, finance, and potentially plan acts of violence.
In its latest public report, the CSIS said a section of Canada-based Khalistani extremists remains active despite the absence of any such attacks on Canadian soil in the past year. According to a report cited by Khalsa Vox, these individuals use Canada as a base for mobilisation, fundraising, and coordination, often leveraging community institutions to channel resources towards violent activities. CSIS cautioned that their continued engagement in politically motivated extremism poses a direct threat to national security and Canadian interests.
The report also raised concerns about foreign interference, describing it as increasingly aggressive in Canada’s political landscape. CSIS identified China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan as key actors employing a range of tactics aimed at undermining democratic institutions, shaping public discourse, and eroding trust in electoral processes.
According to the assessment, Chinese intelligence agencies have adapted their methods by using front companies to post job advertisements on major online platforms, targeting individuals with access to sensitive information. These recruitment efforts are said to focus on those facing financial pressures or seeking career advancement, with the aim of building long-term espionage networks.
CSIS further noted that Russian actors are amplifying social divisions through disinformation campaigns, often using proxies, artificial intelligence, and social media to weaken Canada’s alliances and internal cohesion. Iran has been accused of engaging in transnational repression, including alleged plans to harass, abduct or kill individuals seen as opponents on Canadian soil. Pakistan, the report said, operates through proxies to cultivate covert links with politicians, journalists, academics, and community figures, seeking to influence narratives and suppress dissent within diaspora communities.
The findings, as highlighted by Khalsa Vox, point to a coordinated challenge to Canadian sovereignty. The report warned that extremist activity can sometimes blur with legitimate advocacy in a multicultural society, complicating enforcement efforts.
It called for stronger measures, including tighter scrutiny of foreign funding to community organisations, more assertive action against transnational repression and greater transparency around interference attempts. It also urged political leaders to take a firm stance against violent extremism, regardless of how it is framed.
CSIS emphasised that failure to respond decisively could undermine public safety and democratic integrity, warning that the window to counter such threats is narrowing.