A H Khan
Last September, prior to October’s federal elections in Canada, the CBC quoting intelligence sources reported that several foreign governments were trying to interfere in Canadian elections to influence the outcome.
The CBC report mentioned China and India in particular.
Two countries, however, were absent from the list although they have a long history of interference in other countries’ domestic affairs: the US and Israel.
Interestingly, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Agency (CSIS) agents went around visiting Canadians of Pakistani origin questioning them about alleged attempts by Pakistani diplomats to influence Canadian elections.
One Canadian citizen asked CSIS agents why they don’t investigate Indian intelligence agents operating under diplomatic cover at the Indian Consulate in Toronto?
CSIS agents asked for their names to which the person replied: “That is your job to find out. You are paid to do this.”
It now turns out that India’s foreign intelligence agency—Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and its domestic agency, the Intelligence Bureau (IB)—have been operating in Canada since 2009 to influence its domestic politics.
This was reported by Global News today (April 17) based on a highly sensitive government document that it had obtained.
The report said “Indian intelligence agencies attempted to use money and disinformation to ‘covertly influence’ Canadian politicians.”
Global News report further said: “The document shows that Canadian security officials suspected India’s two main intelligence branches had asked an Indian citizen to sway politicians in this country into supporting Indian government interests.
“The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB) were allegedly behind the operation, which began in 2009, the document said.”
We need to recall that Stephen Harper was then the prime minister of Canada and he was desperate to cultivate close relations with India.
Exactly five years ago (April 14-16, 2015), India’s newly-minted prime minister Narendra Modi was the state guest of Canada.
Harper went out of his way to curry favor with Modi (no pun intended).
He attached himself to Modi like a leech and accompanied him everywhere that the Indian prime minister went.
Modi’s visit ended with a banquet in Vancouver where a large Indian community resides.
While Harper was trying to cultivate close relations with Modi, Indian intelligence agents were actively engaged in influence peddling to advance Delhi’s interests in Canada.
This was disclosed in Federal Court proceedings involving an Indian national accused by CSIS of espionage.
“Identified in court records only as ‘A.B.,’ the man is the editor-in-chief of an unnamed Indian newspaper,” according to Global News report.
The man allegedly met Indian intelligence agents more than 25 times over six years, most recently in May 2015 — a month after Modi’s visit to Canada.
Despite such frequent meetings, the Indian man denied allegations that he had been “covertly” “tasked” by Indian “handlers.”
So, what was the purpose of meeting Indian intelligence agents so frequently? His excuse was that he did so in his “capacity as editor”.
Was he really the ‘editor’ of a newspaper or that was just a convenient cover?
The so-called editor did not dispute being “asked by the IB and RAW to perform various functions,” according to the court.
The Indian agencies wanted him to “act as an unofficial lobbyist or diplomat,” although he said he had refused to work for them.
“You stated that you were tasked by RAW to covertly influence Canadian government representatives and agencies on behalf of the Indian government,” according to a letter sent to him by an immigration official.
“You stated that you were told to identify random Caucasian politicians and attempt to direct them into supporting issues that impacted India,” the letter continued.
“You stated that the guidance from RAW included that you were to provide financial assistance and propaganda material to politicians in order to exert influence over them.”
One of his tasks was allegedly “to convince politicians that funding from Canada was being sent to Pakistan to support terrorism,” according to the letter from immigration official, dated May 30, 2018.
The security screening investigation was triggered when he applied to immigrate to Canada.
India has for many years been involved in a massive disinformation campaign against Pakistan to paint it as a sponsor of terrorism.
While Pakistan has been subjected to Indian state terrorism, its security chief Ajit Duval has made no secret of Delhi’s involvement in destabilizing (read terrorist) activities in Baluchistan.
Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav, using the alias Hussain Mubarak Patel, is currently in Pakistani custody.
He was arrested by Pakistani forces on March 3, 2016 in Baluchistan and charged with terrorism and spying for India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing.
The Pakistani government has said that he was a serving commander in the Indian Navy who was involved in subversive activities inside Pakistan.
India’s nefarious activities are gradually coming to the fore including its subversive activities in Canada, as evidenced by RAW’s recruiting operations for influence peddling.
Despite all this, the man still denied he was working for RAW to advance India’s interest in Canada.
If we believe this, then we must also believe that the earth is flat!
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