Canada & Khalistan: Politically motivated violent extremism

[Neha.Kulkarni]

Politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE)
encourages the use of violence to establish new
political systems or new structures or norms within
existing systems. PMVE actors engage in the planning,
financing and facilitating of attacks, globally, in order
to establish new political systems or entities.
Since the mid-1980s, the PMVE threat in Canada
has manifested primarily through Canada-based
Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) seeking to use and
support violent means to create an independent nation
state called Khalistan, largely within Punjab, India.
Some Canadians participate in legitimate and peaceful
campaigning to support the Khalistan movement.
Non-violent advocacy for an independent state
of Khalistan is not considered extremism. Only a
small group of individuals are considered Khalistani
extremists because they continue to use Canada as
a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning
of violence primarily in India. While there were no
CBKE-related attacks in Canada in 2024, ongoing
involvement in violent activities by CBKEs continues to
pose a national security threat to Canada and Canadian
interests. In particular, real and perceived Khalistani
extremism emerging from Canada continues to drive
Indian foreign interference activities in Canada.
CSIS also continues to monitor emerging threats and
contribute to the Government of Canada terrorist
listing process. In October 2024, the Government of
Canada listed Samidoun (also known as the Palestinian

Prisoner Solidarity Network) as a terrorist entity
under the Criminal Code. Samidoun is associated
with and advances the interests of the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a Palestinian
organization and listed terrorist entity since 2003.
In December 2024, the Government of Canada also
listed Ansarallah (Houthis), a Yemen-based group,
as a terrorist entity. Ansarallah attacked dozens of
maritime vessels in the Red Sea in the past year and is
closely linked to the IRGC-Qods Force and Hezbollah,
two other listed terrorist entities in Canada.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/cs...t_2024-ENG.pdf