'Embassy of Khalistan' appears in Canada’s Surrey, CSIS warning resurfaces

Canada: A Khalistani organisation has reportedly established a so-called ‘Embassy of Khalistan’ within the premises of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

According to a report by CNN-News18, the Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), in coordination with the gurdwara administration, is behind the installation of a board declaring the premises as the “Republic of Khalistan”.

Physical Infrastructure and Funding:

The board has been mounted on a building within the gurdwara compound, which functions as a community centre. Locals told CNN-News18 that the structure was built using public funds from the Government of British Columbia. They further claimed that a grant of $150,000 had recently been provided by the provincial government to facilitate the installation of an elevator in the same building.

Security Agency Disclosure:

The development comes weeks after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) made a significant disclosure in its 2025 annual report. According to the CSIS report, Khalistani extremists continue to use Canada as a base for the “promotion, fundraising, or planning of violence” primarily directed at India. This marked the first time that CSIS publicly confirmed such activities, thereby highlighting the continued threat posed by politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE) from within Canada.

India’s Longstanding Concerns:

India has repeatedly raised alarms over the presence and activities of Khalistani extremists operating from Canadian soil. These concerns date back to the mid-1980s, when Canada-based Khalistani extremists (CBKEs) first began advocating for the violent creation of a separate Sikh homeland—Khalistan—in India’s Punjab region.

CSIS defines politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE) as violence used to bring about political change or establish new political systems. Within Canada, this form of extremism has primarily manifested through CBKEs, who plan, finance, and facilitate acts of violence abroad, especially in India.

The emergence of an ‘Embassy of Khalistan’—even if symbolic—is expected to escalate existing diplomatic friction between India and Canada. India has consistently accused Canada of inaction in curbing anti-India separatist groups, while Canadian authorities have been under scrutiny for protecting freedom of expression even when it overlaps with extremist advocacy.

As of now, there has been no official response from the Government of Canada or the Government of British Columbia regarding the reported use of public funds or the display of the Khalistan board. However, the incident is likely to attract sharp diplomatic protest from New Delhi and may fuel further calls for accountability in Ottawa.