Web Desk
Toronto: Canada’s spy agency alleges that India and Pakistan interfered in the 2019 and 2021 general elections in the country.
In `uncorroborated’ documents made public on Thursday, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) says India had “intent to interfere and likely conducted clandestine activities” in the 2021 general elections in Canada.
It alleges that it has “a body of intelligence” to suggests India targeted “a small number of electoral districts (constituencies)” in the 2021 elections where New Delhi suspected that “a portion of Indo-Canadian voters were sympathetic to the Khalistani movement or pro-Pakistan political stances.”
It also makes unverified allegations that India may have provided illegal financial support to pro-Indian candidates.
“Any such financial contribution could have remained unknown to the candidate.”
The spy agency has not identified the candidates or constituencies which India allegedly targeted in the 2021 elections.
About Pakistan, the Canadian spy agency says its interference was “primarily to promote political, security and economic stability in Pakistan and to counter India’s growing global influence.”
In a summary of a classified document provided to all Canadian political parties in June 2019, the Canadian spy agency had said that “Indian officials have utilized a network of contacts, which includes politicians, academics, businesspersons, media personalities and community leaders, to monitor Canadian-based individuals that are of interest to the Government of India.
“Pakistani officials in Canada have likely tried to clandestinely influence and support Canadian politicians of Pakistani descent, with the aim of furthering Pakistani interests in Canada.”
