Canada Lists Khalistani Issue in Terror Threat Report For 1st Time

The 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada listed Khalistan issue as a matter of “concern.”

This is the first time in the Justin Trudeau government since the inception of Khalistani extremism in 2013 that Canada has listed the issue as one of the threats to the country, reported Hindustan Times.

In the 2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada, submitted by public safety minister Ralph Goodale, the Khalistan issue has been mentioned as a matter of “concern.”

The report said even as Canada’s threat environment remains largely stable, the main challenge is posed by individuals and groups inspired by violent ideology propagated by Sunni extremist groups like Dash (Islamic State) or al-Qaeda, according to Hindustan Times.

“Furthermore, Shia and Sikh (Khalistani) extremism also remain of concern because while their attacks in Canada have been extremely limited, some Canadians continue to support these extremist groups, including through financing.”

2018 Public Report on the Terrorism Threat to Canada

“Canada is known internationally as a welcoming and peaceful nation. But we are also resolute in our determination to reject and combat violent extremism in all forms. Put simply, violence and threat of violence have no place in Canadian society. Stopping and eradicating this is a top priority of the government,” Goodale noted in the report.

Khalistani extremism was given a separate section in the report as were the Sunni Islamist, Shia extremism, Canadian extremist travellers and “individuals suspected of traveling abroad to engage in extremist activity.”

“Some individuals in Canada continue to support Sikh (Khalistani) extremist ideologies and movements.” It mentioned that violent activities in support of Khalistan had “fallen since their height during the 1982-1993 period when individuals and groups conducted numerous terrorist attacks.”

The report also mentioned that two Khalistani groups, Babbar Khalsa International and International Sikh Youth Federation, are listed terrorists under Canada’s Criminal Code.