Diplomatic Chill: Canada Accuses India of Foreign Interference Amid Renewed Talks"

 

Just as Canada and India appeared to be thawing their frosty diplomatic ties, a new intelligence report has reignited tensions. 

On June 18, 2025, Canada’s top spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), publicly named India as a perpetrator of foreign interference, accusing it of clandestine efforts to influence Canadian politics and suppress dissent within diaspora communities.

The report alleges that Indian officials—both directly and through proxy agents based in Canada—have engaged in activities aimed at shaping Canadian policy to align with New Delhi’s interests. 

These efforts reportedly focus on silencing or discrediting supporters of the Khalistan movement, a Sikh separatist campaign that seeks an independent homeland in India’s Punjab region. The CSIS claims these actions include surveillance, intimidation, and attempts to manipulate political discourse.

This revelation comes at a delicate moment. Just a day earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Alberta. 

The two leaders had agreed to reinstate high commissioners and resume full diplomatic engagement after a year of strained relations following the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia—a killing Canada previously linked to Indian agents.

India has strongly denied the latest allegations, calling the CSIS report “baseless” and “politically motivated.” Indian officials argue that Canada is turning a blind eye to extremist elements within its borders and using the interference narrative to deflect from its own domestic challenges. 

They also accuse Ottawa of failing to act on multiple extradition requests and of harboring individuals linked to violent separatist groups.

The timing of the report’s release—just hours after the Modi-Carney meeting—has raised eyebrows. Some analysts suggest it was a strategic move by Canadian authorities to reassure domestic critics, particularly within the Sikh community, that national security remains a priority despite diplomatic overtures.

As both nations attempt to navigate this renewed turbulence, the stakes are high. Trade, immigration, and security cooperation hang in the balance. 

Whether this latest flare-up derails the fragile détente or prompts a deeper reckoning remains to be seen.