In a recent development, Canada has officially named India as a cyberthreat adversary in its National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026, alongside China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The report, released by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, suggests that Indian state-sponsored actors may be conducting cyber espionage against Canadian government networks. This marks the first time India has been included in such a list, having not been mentioned in previous assessments from 2018, 2020, or 2023-24.
The report contends that India’s leadership aims to expand its modernized cyber capabilities, enhancing its national security imperatives like espionage, counter-terrorism, and promotion of its global status. It alleges that India may be leveraging commercial cyber vendors to bolster these operations, attributing recent cyber activities to geopolitical tensions, including those following accusations of Indian involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has strongly refuted these claims, describing them as part of a broader Canadian strategy to undermine India. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the allegations as unfounded and baseless, accusing Canadian officials of manipulating global opinion without evidence.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged a possible link between Indian agents and Nijjar’s killing. India labeled these allegations as “absurd” and has consistently highlighted issues related to pro-Khalistan elements operating from Canadian soil as the core of their strained relations. In response, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and withdrew several high-ranking officials from Canada.
As diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate, the situation underscores growing international concerns over state-sponsored cyber activities and geopolitical disputes impacting global diplomatic landscapes.
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/11/03/now-canada-names-india-as-adversary/
Category : INTERNATIONAL
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Publish Date: 2024-11-03 01:11:00
