In a solemn reminder of the enduring threat posed by terrorism, India has invoked the deadly bombing of Air India flight 182 in 1985 to highlight concerns about Khalistani elements based in Canada. 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 came in conjunction with a ceremony organized by the Indian High Commission in Ottawa on Sunday. The event paid homage to the victims of the bombing of the airliner named Kanishka, just days after the Canadian Parliament observed a minute?s silence marking the first anniversary of the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who had been declared a terrorist by Indian authorities.

Until the devastating 9/11 attacks in the US by al-Qaeda, the bombing of Air India flight 182 was the worst aviation-related terrorist attack in history. It remains the deadliest terror attack in Canadian history, resulting in the deaths of all 329 people on board the airliner, including over 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 posted on X, stating his thoughts were with the families of the 329 victims. ?The anniversary is a reminder why terrorism should never be tolerated,? he said.

Addressing the ceremony in Ottawa, Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma appeared to reference Canadian authorities' recent tolerance of pro-Khalistan activities. ?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 the transitory political interests,? Verma asserted.

Verma further emphasized that all terror activities ?should be met with exemplary legal and social actions.? He called on governments, security agencies, and international organizations to work in concert to dismantle terror networks, disrupt their financing, and counter their ?twisted ideologies.?