Canada’s probe agency report flags India as ‘foreign threat’
Toronto: Canada’s intelligence agency flags India as a ‘foreign threat’ amid concerns of election meddling, citing the need for protective measures.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this comes in the wake of strained relations and accusations following the murder of a pro-Khalistan leader on Canadian soil.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service’s declassified document to Canadian government shows that the authorities had marked India as a ‘foreign interference threat’ that could potentially interfere in Canadian elections.
The Canadian intelligence agency report mentions “India engages in Foreign Interference activities.” According to a report by Global News, that accessed the declassified documents, almost three pages of the report were devoted to India, although they were entirely redacted except for a single sentence that claimed India engages in Foreign Interference activities.
The Canadian intelligence report points to the need for “clearly articulated strategies,” and said raising awareness and briefing officials and politicians was “central to these efforts.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had ordered the inquiry of foreign interference in attempting to sway Canadian elections after media reports flagged Chinese activities. The declassified document, dated 24 February 2023, is titled, “Briefing to the Minister of Democratic Institutions on Foreign Interference.”
The intelligence report advised PM Justin Trudeau’s government to “do more to protect Canada’s robust democratic institutions and processes.” India and China were the countries that were named as threat in the report. This is the first time India has been accused of election interference in Canada.
Foreign interference is different from traditional diplomacy since it used secrecy and deception to influence public narratives and policy-making, Global News cited the report as saying.
Justin Trudeau stunned the world in September when he accused India of orchestrating the June 2023 murder of a pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh on Canadian soil. The allegation upended Canada-India relations. PM Modi’s administration forcefully denied the claim, calling it “absurd and motivated.”
