The report claims that Indian state-sponsored cyber actors likely engage in cyber operations targeting Canadian government networks, primarily for espionage
In a first, Canada has officially described India as an “adversary” in its National Cyber Threat Assessment for 2025-2026. The report, published by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security on Tuesday, places India alongside China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in its section on cyber threats from state adversaries.
The report claims that Indian state-sponsored cyber actors likely engage in cyber operations targeting Canadian government networks, primarily for espionage. “We assess that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors likely conduct cyber threat activity against government of Canada networks for the purpose of espionage,” it stated. The assessment further suggests that tensions in Canada-India relations will “very likely drive Indian state-sponsored cyber threat activity against Canada.”
The document also highlights India’s ambitions to modernize its cyber capabilities, suggesting that India is “almost certainly” working toward a sophisticated cyber program. According to the report, India “very likely uses its cyber program to advance its national security imperatives, including espionage, counterterrorism, and the country’s efforts to promote its global status and counter narratives against India and the Indian government.” It also notes that India’s cyber operations likely incorporate commercial vendors to enhance their effectiveness.
This report marks another escalation in the ongoing diplomatic strain between Canada and India. In mid-October, India recalled six of its diplomats from Canada, who were declared “persons of interest” in Canadian law enforcement investigations related to violent criminal activity. In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.
Tensions have been further heightened by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public statements about Indian interference. On October 16, Trudeau appeared before the foreign interference commission in Ottawa, reiterating allegations that India had violated Canada’s sovereignty. “We had clear and certainly now ever clearer indications that India had violated Canada’s sovereignty,” he stated. However, Canadian authorities have not yet provided any concrete evidence to support these claims, saying that more details will be presented during upcoming trials concerning incidents of murder, extortion, and violence.
The strain on bilateral ties intensified last September when Trudeau made headlines by suggesting in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” linking Indian agents to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan activist, in British Columbia. At the time, Trudeau acknowledged that the basis for these allegations was “primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof.” India dismissed these accusations as “absurd” and “motivated.”
