The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has put out its annual report for 2025. In it, they officially say that Khalistani extremists living in Canada (CBKEs) are a major threat to national security. The report, which was presented to the Canadian Parliament on May 2, 2026, talks about a worrying trend of people using domestic institutions to push violent extremist agendas and move community funds toward radical activities. CSIS said that many Canadians support the separatist movement in a legal and peaceful way, but it also said that a “small group” is still using Canada as a base to plan and fund violence mostly against India. The report made a point of mentioning the 40th anniversary of the 1985 Air India Flight 182 bombing, which was the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history, as a reminder of how dangerous these extremist groups still are.
In a separate look at outside threats, the intelligence agency also pointed out widespread foreign meddling and spying, with India, China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan being the main offenders. The report says that these countries are trying to change Canadian politics, media, and diaspora communities in secret ways. CSIS said that India uses “proxy agents” and transnational repression to fight the Khalistan movement abroad. This often makes it hard to tell the difference between stopping violent extremism and stopping legal political dissent. The tone of the 2025 report, on the other hand, shows a change in leadership under Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have recently downplayed direct links between the Indian government and violent crimes in Canada. The CSIS report is a strong warning for Canada to be on the lookout for both internal radicalization and the subtle, harmful effects of foreign states on the country’s democratic fabric as it deals with this complicated geopolitical situation.
