‘India is the second biggest foreign threat to Canada’ stated the report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP), an inter-parliamentary group consisting of senators and MPs across parties. The report further stated that India’s interference in Canada has ‘slowly increased’ and ‘expanded’ over the last few years. It alleged that India’s interference has surpassed countering pro-Khalistani efforts in Canada and now also includes interfering in Canadian democratic processes and institutions by targeting Canadian politicians, ethnic media and Indo-Canadian ethnocultural communities.
This allegation is the latest development in a series of heated diplomatic exchanges between the two countries following tensions due to the murder of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18th June, 2023 in Canada.
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Further Insights from the Report
Naming China as the foremost foreign influence, the report confirms that India stands at the second spot surpassing Russia which stands at the third. The report reveals that some Canadian Members of Parliament may have been swayed by foreign influence. It also states that these Canadian officials have acted inappropriately in their communications with foreign missions. They have also attempted to ‘improperly influence’ colleagues and shared classified information with foreign diplomats. The report also reveals suspicions of some MPs having received funds from foreign actors. This report was initially submitted to the Prime minister’s Office in May and was only recently tabled in the Parliament. The report mentions India a total of 44 times within its 84 pages.
China as the key actor
The report defines China as the ‘most prolific’ actor in foreign influence and emphasizes the communist nations strategies to promote and protect the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “In its efforts to protect and enhance the legitimacy and stability of the CCP domestically and abroad, the PRC employs a comprehensive approach to targeting and leveraging virtually all aspects of Canada’s democratic processes and institutions to advance its strategic interests,” it stated. The report also makes note of other nations such as Pakistan who have been involved in foreign influence in Canada.
India – Canada Relations
India Canada relations have been particularly strained due to the Khalistani issue following the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan activist who was murdered by unidentified assailants in Surrey on 18th June, 2023. Following the murder, Canada declared that it had evidence of the involvement of Indian authorities in the murder. India however, has strongly denied any involvement in the murder case.
In May 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrested three Indian nationals in connection with the case. Nijjar was a part of the larger group of Khalistani activists in Canada who advocate for the carving out of a separate Khalistani nation out of India. These activities have long frustrated the Indian government, who has continually expressed its aversion.
Conclusion
India has not yet responded to the report by the NSICOP ,however, the Indian government has previously denied similar such allegations and continues to blame Canada for harboring Khalistani separatists leading to diplomatic tensions.
