A new report from Canada’s spy agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) highlights that overall, threats to Canada’s national security have increased and intensified. “Most significantly, CSIS agrees with US and UK intelligence agency statements that never in our combined histories, have we faced threats of such magnitude simultaneously,” said Vanessa Lloyd, Deputy Director of Operations at CSIS.
CSIS in its report has listed China, Russia, India, Iran and Pakistan as main countries involved in foreign interference.
INDIA
As the Public Inquiry into Foreign interference (PIFI) began its first phase of public hearings in March 2024, the extent of the Government of India’s involvement in foreign interference became clearer. Indian officials, including their Canada-based proxy agents, engage in a range of activities that seek to influence Canadian communities and politicians. When these activities are deceptive, clandestine or threatening, they are deemed to be foreign interference. These activities attempt to steer Canada’s positions into alignment with India’s interests on key issues, particularly with respect to how the Indian government perceives Canada-based supporters of an independent homeland that they call Khalistan.
With the re-election of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s political course will be a continuation of a Hindu-nationalist policy agenda that has been implemented since Prime Minister Modi was first elected in 2014. Prime Minister Modi and his core ministers and advisers are keen to build India’s global influence and counter any activity they consider as ‘anti-India,’ at home or abroad, in the name of domestic stability and prosperity. With that considered, there is a long history of India arguing that Canada is a haven for ‘anti-India’ activity, with the separatist Khalistan movement being a particular focus of India’s concern, which is rooted in the aftermath of the 1985 Air India bombing and subsequent terrorist activity in India.
The Government of Canada’s investigation into the 2023 killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar continued in 2024. Four individuals were arrested in May 2024 and charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Criminal proceedings are ongoing. In mid-October, as part of ongoing RCMP investigations, the RCMP announced that evidence pointed to a link between agents of the Government of India and criminal networks to sow violent activity in South Asian communities in Canada. On October 14, Canada, in the interests of public safety, expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in order to disrupt this network. Links between the Government of India and the Nijjar murder signals a significant escalation in India’s repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America.
As PIFI reached the end of its public hearings and South Asian communities in Canada expressed concerns over Government of India pressure tactics and targeting, CSIS noted that this form of foreign interference, called transnational repression, plays a central role in India’s activity in Canada. Transnational repression is a well-established tactic for foreign governments to exploit communities they view as their ethnic populations.
Canada must remain vigilant about continued foreign interference conducted by the Government of India, not only within ethnic, religious and cultural communities but also in Canada’s political system. CSIS will continue to observe and assess the nature and extent of India’s activities in Canada.
PAKISTAN
In May 2024, the PIFI initial report named Pakistan amongst states that have interfered in Canadian democratic processes. In June 2024, NSICOP published its Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions, which also highlighted how Pakistan was amongst the countries to have engaged in foreign interference activities that posed a significant risk to national security, principally by undermining Canada’s fundamental institutions and eroding the rights and freedoms of people in Canada.
The Government of Pakistan engaged in foreign interference in previous federal and provincial elections, for example, by attempting to clandestinely affect the selection of politicians and candidates who are perceived to be more pro-Pakistan than pro-India. Between September 2018 and September 2023, CSIS conducted a threat reduction measure to reduce the Pakistan foreign interference threat, which was later assessed as effective.
In addition to interference against Canadian democratic processes, Pakistan engaged in transnational repression by suppressing dissidents and critics in Canada. These activities represent one of the most egregious forms of foreign interference.
Pakistan conducts foreign interference against Canada to promote political, security and economic stability in Pakistan and to counter India’s growing global influence. Canada is an attractive foreign interference target due to its significant South Asian community and presence of groups who may be utilized as pro-Pakistan or anti-India proxies. CSIS assesses that Pakistan will continue to target various levels of government as well as ethnic, cultural and religious communities, specifically in relation to electoral nomination processes. They may also target media.
