Canada Signals Confidence India Has Halted Alleged Targeting of Sikh Activists Ahead of Prime Minister’s Visit

On the eve of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s official visit to Mumbai and New Delhi, a senior Canadian government official has indicated that Ottawa believes India is no longer engaged in covert operations targeting individuals in Canada.

Speaking during a background briefing with reporters, the official suggested that ongoing high-level diplomatic engagement between the two countries has led to a de-escalation of tensions that had severely strained bilateral relations over the past two years.

“We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers,” the official said. “We’re confident that the activity is not continuing, or we would not be having this type of discussion.”

The remarks mark the first time a Canadian official has publicly suggested that India may have halted the activities Ottawa previously described as transnational repression. When pressed for further details, the official declined to provide specifics, including when the alleged operations were believed to have stopped. However, he added, “I really don’t think we’d be taking this trip if we thought these kinds of activities would continue.”

The comments come against the backdrop of serious allegations that have roiled Canada–India relations since 2023. Canadian national security agencies have previously asserted that India initiated a campaign in 2022 targeting pro-Khalistan activists in North America. The allegations intensified following the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist who was shot outside a temple in Surrey, British Columbia, where he served as president.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) later stated that India’s government had been linked to a broader pattern of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh activists. Investigators alleged that the Indian government had used intermediaries, including gang figures, in connection with the murder. An Indian intelligence officer was also reportedly implicated in a separate alleged plot to kill another Canadian in the United States.

The diplomatic fallout was swift. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, while India strongly rejected the allegations and accused Ottawa of harboring extremists. Relations between the two nations reached one of their lowest points in decades.

Since assuming office, however, Prime Minister Carney has moved to repair ties with New Delhi. His government has signaled interest in deepening economic cooperation and pursuing a trade agreement, particularly as global trade dynamics shift amid protectionist pressures from the United States.

Despite the government’s renewed confidence, Sikh advocacy groups have sharply disputed the assertion that the threat has subsided. The World Sikh Organization (WSO) of Canada called the official’s comments “utterly false,” arguing that Sikh Canadians continue to face intimidation and surveillance.

The group pointed to recent developments, including a police warning issued last weekend to Vancouver-based Sikh activist Moninder Singh about an alleged imminent threat to him and his family. According to the WSO, it is the fourth such warning he has received since 2022.

In a statement, the organization said it is aware of incidents over the past six months involving individuals being “surveilled, harassed and intimidated” by agents linked to the Indian government. The WSO accused the Carney administration of failing to implement adequate safeguards to protect Sikh Canadians from foreign interference.

“The government has failed to hold India accountable or to create meaningful protections,” the organization said. “Declaring the problem resolved does not make it so.”

When asked to clarify when Ottawa believes India ended any alleged campaign, the senior official declined to provide a timeline. He emphasized instead that discussions on security concerns continue at multiple levels, including between ministers and national security advisers.

“These issues have been raised regularly,” he said. “We are confident that we have the basis for further productive discussion.”

As Prime Minister Carney prepares to meet Indian leaders, his visit signals a potential turning point in a relationship strained by allegations of foreign interference and violence. Whether the renewed diplomatic engagement will translate into lasting trust remains uncertain, particularly as domestic critics question whether the underlying security concerns have truly been resolved.