India's Ministry of External Affairs said Canada is being used as a haven for extremist and separatist Khalistani groups [1, 2].
The statement marks a deepening diplomatic rift between New Delhi and Ottawa. The tension centers on how Canada manages groups that India views as direct threats to its national security and territorial integrity.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, addressed the issue in New Delhi [1]. Jaiswal responded to a report from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) regarding espionage claims [1, 2]. He said that Canada is being used as a base for those who wish to operate against India [1, 2].
India has consistently raised concerns that Canadian soil provides a safe harbor for Khalistani extremists [1, 2]. The Indian government argues that these groups utilize the legal and social frameworks of Canada to organize activities that threaten India's internal stability [1, 2].
In his response, Jaiswal rejected the espionage allegations put forward by Canada [1, 2]. He said that the claims made by the CSIS are baseless [1, 2]. The dispute highlights a fundamental disagreement over the definition of political activism versus extremist activity, a gap that continues to hinder bilateral cooperation.
New Delhi maintains that the presence of these groups on Canadian soil is an affront to its security [1, 2]. The ministry said the responsibility lies with Canada to ensure its territory is not used for such purposes [1, 2].
“Canada is being used as a haven for those groups”
This exchange underscores a critical impasse in India-Canada relations. By framing Canada as a 'haven' for separatists, India is shifting the narrative from defending against espionage charges to accusing Canada of failing in its counter-terrorism obligations. This suggests that diplomatic normalization is unlikely until Canada addresses India's concerns regarding the Khalistan movement.
