In a major development, it has come to light that Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Vanessa Lloyd, acknowledged Pakistan's involvement in influencing Canadian politics, particularly in supporting Khalistani elements.

Interestingly, this happened weeks before diplomatic tensions between India and Canada escalated. A video of Lloyd's testimony, delivered last month before Canada's Foreign Interference Commission, has resurfaced amid the ongoing diplomatic fallout over the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

During a session on September 27, Lloyd testified before the commission, stating, "Pakistan's engagement is consistently aimed at reducing India's influence." 

She further emphasized that "the influence of Pakistan is directly related to the support of Khalistani extremism." Her remarks were made as part of a broader investigation into foreign interference in Canada's political and electoral processes.

Lloyd reportedly testified that Pakistan conducts intelligence operations and transnational repression in Canada with the goal of supporting 'Khalistani extremism'.

The resurfacing of the video coincides with heightened tensions between India and Canada, with Ottawa suggesting potential sanctions against New Delhi following its accusations regarding Nijjar's killing. 

Canadian authorities have accused Indian agents of involvement in "homicides, extortion, and violent acts" targeting pro-Khalistan supporters and attempted to link Indian agents to criminal activities involving the Bishnoi gang.

India has strongly rejected these accusations, including claims made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who alleged that Indian operatives had been involved in covert actions against Canadian nationals. 

During a press conference, Trudeau declared, "Canada will never tolerate the involvement of a foreign government in threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil."

In response to these allegations, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its high commissioner from Canada. Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly did not rule out further measures during a briefing, stating that "everything is on the table" when asked about potential sanctions against India. 

Joly highlighted that expelling diplomats is one of the most severe steps a country can take under the Vienna Convention, suggesting that Ottawa may consider additional actions in the ongoing standoff.

New Delhi continues to deny any involvement in criminal activities in Canada and has dismissed Trudeau's assertion that Ottawa shared evidence in the Nijjar case, calling it "simply not true."