More than four decades after the bombing of Air India Flight 182 claimed 329 lives, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has, for the first time, publicly and explicitly attributed the attack to Canada-based Khalistani extremists. While India has consistently maintained that the 1985 bombing was carried out by Khalistani militants, Canadian authorities had historically avoided directly identifying the movement in official commemorations of the tragedy.
In a Facebook post marking the anniversary of the attack, CSIS stated that on June 23, 1985, a bomb planted by Canada-based Khalistani extremists destroyed the aircraft, killing everyone on board, the majority of whom were Canadian citizens. The agency described the incident as the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history and a pivotal moment for the country’s national security establishment.
Air India Flight 182, a Boeing 747 known as Emperor Kanishka, was travelling from Toronto to Mumbai when it exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. The attack, carried out using a bomb hidden in the aircraft’s luggage compartment by members of the banned Khalistani organisation Babbar Khalsa, killed all passengers and crew. Until the September 11 attacks in 2001, it was considered the deadliest act of aviation terrorism in the world. Canada later designated June 23 as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism in 2005.
The CSIS statement follows its recent annual report, which identified Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups as an ongoing national security concern. The report warned that such groups continue to use Canadian territory to promote extremist objectives and raise funds that can support violent activities.
For decades, India accused Canada of ignoring concerns regarding Khalistani networks operating from Canadian soil, even after the separatist movement had largely diminished within India. These concerns repeatedly strained relations between the two countries.
Successive Canadian governments, particularly under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, often disagreed with India’s position on the issue. The Trudeau administration went so far as to accuse India of engaging in transnational repression against individuals in Canada. However, with Canadian intelligence agencies now openly recognising the threat posed by Khalistani extremist networks, many observers view the development as reinforcing India’s longstanding concerns.
The delay in officially acknowledging Khalistani involvement has been linked to major failures within Canada’s security and investigative systems. A 2010 public inquiry led by former Supreme Court Justice John Major concluded that a series of institutional mistakes severely undermined efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
Among the most significant failures was the rivalry between CSIS and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Although CSIS had been monitoring Babbar Khalsa leader Talwinder Singh Parmar, the intelligence agency destroyed hundreds of hours of wiretap recordings, eliminating evidence that could have played a crucial role in prosecutions.
The inquiry also highlighted a lack of urgency from political leaders and institutions. Despite the fact that most victims were Canadian citizens, the tragedy was often viewed as a foreign issue rather than a domestic terrorist attack. Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper later acknowledged that victims’ families were treated with indifference by Canadian institutions.
Investigators also faced serious challenges due to witness intimidation and the murders of key witnesses. The collapse of the major criminal trial in 2005, which resulted in the acquittal of principal suspects because of insufficient evidence, intensified calls for a comprehensive public inquiry.
Although Harper formally apologised in 2010 for Canada’s institutional failures, official references to the perpetrators remained vague for years, often using terms such as “extremists” or “insurgents” without specifically mentioning Khalistani groups. It has taken another 16 years for Canadian authorities to explicitly identify Canada-based Khalistani extremists as being responsible for the bombing.
The significance of this acknowledgement extends beyond the historical case itself. The Khalistani movement, which emerged in Punjab during the 1970s and was associated with a violent insurgency in subsequent decades, largely lost influence within India. However, many supporters and activists relocated abroad, particularly to Canada.
India has repeatedly alleged that some Khalistani-linked individuals and organisations operating in Canada have been involved in activities ranging from organised crime to support for extremist causes. According to Indian officials, these activities have continued to fuel security concerns and have complicated bilateral relations.
Tensions became particularly pronounced during Justin Trudeau’s tenure. One notable controversy occurred during his 2018 visit to India, when Jaspal Atwal, a Sikh Canadian previously convicted in connection with an assassination attempt on a Punjab minister, was invited to an official event. Relations deteriorated further after Trudeau publicly alleged that Indian agents were linked to the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canadian institutions appear to have adopted a more direct approach to the issue. In its 2025 public report, CSIS explicitly identified Canada-based Khalistani extremist groups as a security threat, stating that some individuals associated with these networks use Canadian institutions to promote extremist objectives and collect funds that may be diverted toward violent activities.
With CSIS now publicly identifying Khalistani extremists as the perpetrators of the Air India Flight 182 bombing, Canada has taken a step it had avoided for decades. The acknowledgement marks a significant shift in the country’s public position regarding one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in its history and aligns more closely with concerns India has raised for many years.
