The Canadian Center for Cyber Security has designated India as a cyber threat in its National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026 report, marking another development in the ongoing diplomatic tension between the two nations. According to Caroline Xavier, head of the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), India is seen as an emerging cyber threat, particularly because of its use of cyber technology to track political activists and dissidents abroad. The assessment report reveals that a pro-Indian hacktivist group has carried out cyber attacks and surveillance operations targeting Canadian websites, including those of the Canadian Armed Forces. The development follows Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison’s accusations against Amit Shah over planned violence against Sikhs and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier statement about credible evidence linking the Indian government to the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In a related action, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats in early October in response to their alleged involvement in suppressing Sikh separatist movements. The cyber threat assessment adds another layer to diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, highlighting concerns about the use of cyber capabilities against Canadian citizens and national security interests.
