NEW DELHI: The bogey of foreign interference continues to plague India-Canada ties with Ottawa listing India among countries that could interfere in the Canadian elections that will be held on April 28.
A top Canadian intelligence official said Monday that India has both intent and wherewithal to interfere in Canada’s democratic processes.
Canada has in the past too accused India of interfering in its domestic politics. Canadian Security Intelligence Service deputy director Vanessa Lloyd said it was China that was likely to use AI to influence the election campaign but added that India, Russia and Pakistan could also interfere in the elections.
“We have also seen that the govt of India has the intent and capability to interfere in Canadian communities and democratic processes to assert its geopolitical influence,” said the official.
Canadian PM Mark Carney, who replaced Justin Trudeau earlier this month, has called snap polls on April 28 seeking a strong mandate in the middle of an internecine tariff war with the Trump administration, or what he has described as “the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty”.
The remarks by the Canadian official follow a period of relative quiet and dialling down of tensions that have rocked the relationship since Trudeau accused New Delhi of facilitating the murder of a Khalistani separatist and Canadian national, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Carney has expressed interest in rebuilding ties with India, and Indian govt too has said it hopes to do the same based on mutual trust and sensitivity.
CTV News quoted the official as also saying that Pakistan could conduct foreign interference activities against Canada in line with its strategic aims and to counter India’s influence. “Pakistan could potentially conduct foreign interference against Canada in line with its strategic aims to promote political, security and economic stability in Pakistan and to counter India’s growing global influence,” added Lloyd.