Canada accuses India and Pakistan of election interference

PTC News Desk: In a contentious development, Canada has accused both India and Pakistan of interference in its general elections, a claim vehemently rejected by India. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) released an unclassified summary as part of a federal inquiry into potential foreign interference, alleging covert activities by the two South Asian nations during the 2019 and 2021 electoral cycles.

According to the CSIS summary, there were concerted efforts by both India and Pakistan to influence Canada's electoral processes. Specifically, the document suggests that in the 2021 elections, the Indian government targeted certain electoral districts with a significant population of Indian-origin voters sympathetic to the anti-party movement or supportive of Pakistan. Allegations include the possibility of government proxies attempting to manipulate democratic processes through undisclosed financial support to preferred candidates.

Similarly, the CSIS report indicates that in the 2019 elections, officials from the Pakistani government engaged in covert activities aimed at promoting Pakistan's interests within Canada's political landscape. India swiftly rebuffed these accusations, labeling them as baseless and redirecting attention to what it perceives as Canada's own interference in its internal affairs. Indian authorities assert their commitment to non-interference in the democratic processes of other nations.

The allegations and denials have heightened tensions between Canada and India, exacerbating already strained relations between the two countries. The fallout from Canada's inquiry into foreign meddling underscores the complexities of international relations and the delicate balance of diplomatic engagements.

Allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections

In January, Canada made headlines with its announcement to investigate claims of foreign meddling in its national elections, with a specific focus on India, as reported by Bloomberg.

Responding to these allegations, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in February, "We strongly reject all such baseless allegations of Indian interference in Canadian elections." Jaiswal emphasised that the Indian government does not engage in interfering with the democratic processes of other countries, contrary to what Canada claims, asserting that it is Canada itself that has been meddling in India's internal affairs.

The decision to initiate a public inquiry stemmed from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's response to leaked intelligence reports suggesting Chinese efforts to influence Canadian elections by supporting candidates sympathetic to President Xi Jinping's regime.

The appointed commissioner for the inquiry was tasked with investigating potential interference by various actors, including India, China, Russia, and other governmental and non-governmental entities, during both the 2019 and 2021 election cycles.

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Relations between India and Canada

Previous accusations made by Mr. Trudeau regarding Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil have significantly strained bilateral relations between the two nations.

Although India has vehemently rejected these allegations as absurd, the aftermath has led to diplomatic consequences, including the temporary suspension of visas for Canadians and a decrease in diplomatic representation.

In February, the designation of India as a "foreign threat" by Canadian intelligence, alongside China and Russia, further escalated the diplomatic tension between the two countries.

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(Inputs from agencies)