NEW DELHI, India — India’s long-running concerns over Khalistan-linked extremism took center stage during a recent visit to Canada by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, a development officials say could disrupt efforts to revive the separatist movement.
The Khalistan issue has remained a persistent source of friction between India and Canada, with bilateral ties deteriorating during the tenure of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau had been accused by Indian officials of being sympathetic to Khalistan elements and had made allegations against India following the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, triggering a diplomatic standoff.
Following Trudeau’s exit, both countries moved to reset relations and agreed to work more closely on addressing Khalistan-related activities.
Officials said Doval held talks in Canada with Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, describing the meeting as constructive and outcome-oriented. The renewed engagement, they said, has caused concern among Khalistani elements that have long operated out of Canada.
According to Indian officials, Canada has been used as a base by Khalistani groups to issue threats against India and coordinate activities. Authorities allege that key figures behind targeted killings in Punjab are based in Canada and that these groups are also involved in drug trafficking and the smuggling of arms and ammunition into the state.
One of the main outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to share real-time intelligence, with a focus on Khalistan-linked networks, drugs, cyber threats, and Sikh extremism, officials said.
Another official described the talks as among the most constructive in recent years, noting that intelligence inputs suggest Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency has stepped up efforts to revive the Khalistan movement in Punjab. According to these inputs, operatives are being readied for infiltration, with narcotics trafficking used to fund the operation.
Officials said the strategy currently involves low-level activities, such as placing Khalistan flags in remote areas, with plans to later lure youth with financial incentives. The intelligence-sharing arrangement between India and Canada is expected to significantly undermine these efforts.
Authorities also said Canada remains the primary command center for these networks, followed by the United Kingdom.
Rebuilding trust was another key focus of the talks. Indian officials said earlier allegations linking Indian intelligence agencies to Nijjar’s killing had strained relations and that Canada had previously viewed Khalistan-related activity through the lens of free speech rather than extremism.
Following the Doval-Drouin meeting, both sides have agreed to treat Khalistan-linked activities as terrorism and organized crime, rather than protected expression, officials said.
Doval also raised concerns over fundraising by Khalistani groups, alleging that funds were being raised through charities and some gurdwaras in Canada. He emphasized the need for cooperation in dismantling narco-cartels, which Indian officials say are financing the movement.
Officials added that Khalistani groups have been active online, using social media and other discreet methods to promote their agenda. With closer cooperation and real-time intelligence sharing, these activities are expected to decline sharply.
Some Khalistani elements are now seeking to shift operations to countries such as Italy and Germany, officials said, but dismantling their long-established networks in Canada would make such moves difficult.
The meeting took place as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a visit to India in March, during which officials expect further progress in bilateral ties during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An Intelligence Bureau official said heightened vigilance would be required, warning that Khalistani elements could attempt provocations in Punjab even as pressure mounts on their networks. (Source: IANS)
