India has reiterated its concerns about the threat posed by Khalistani elements based in Canada by citing the deadly bombing of Air India flight 182 in 1985. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized that the attack serves as a stark reminder of why terrorism should never be tolerated. Jaishankar’s remarks on X and a ceremony organized by the Indian high commission in Ottawa on Sunday to pay homage to the victims of the bombing, known as Kanishka, came shortly after the Canadian Parliament observed a minute’s silence on the first anniversary of the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who has been declared a terrorist by Indian authorities.
Until the 9/11 attacks in the US, the bombing of Air India flight 182 was the worst aviation-related terrorist attack in history and remains the worst terror attack in Canadian history. It resulted in the deaths of all 329 people on board, including more than 270 Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian origin, and 24 Indians. On the 39th anniversary of “one of the worst acts of terrorism in history,” Jaishankar expressed his condolences to the families of the 329 victims and reiterated that the anniversary is a reminder that terrorism should never be tolerated.
In an apparent reference to Canadian authorities’ recent actions regarding pro-Khalistan elements, Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, while addressing the ceremony in Ottawa, stated: “No government in the world should overlook the threat of terrorism emanating from its territories for political gains. Human lives are much more important than transitory political interests.”
Verma emphasized that all terror activities should be met with exemplary legal and social actions, and that governments, security agencies, and international organizations must work together to dismantle terror networks, disrupt their financing, and counter their twisted ideologies. A statement from the Indian high commission stressed that any act glorifying terrorism, including the bombing of Kanishka, should be condemned, and lamented that such actions are often overlooked in Canada.
Relatives and friends of victims, Canadian government officials, the envoy of Ireland, and members of the Indo-Canadian community attended the ceremony.
While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a statement to mark the “National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism,” he did not reference the perpetrators of the Air India flight 182 bombing or the efforts to bring them to justice.
“Thirty-nine years ago today, 329 innocent people, including 280 Canadians, tragically lost their lives when a bomb, planted on Air India Flight 182 in Canada, exploded mid-flight. This remains the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history. It reminds us of the senseless violence that terrorism perpetuates and of our shared responsibility to unequivocally condemn terrorism,” Trudeau said.
