​Changed circumstances: On the U.S., India and extremism concerns

In the first acknowledged discussion on the Pannun episode and anti-India activities by pro-Khalistani groups in the U.S. since the Donald Trump administration took office, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue in a meeting with U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He urged the U.S. to designate Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, as a foreign terrorist organisation, citing its anti-India activities on American soil and its alleged backing by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Ms. Gabbard was in India to also attend the annual Intelligence and Security Chiefs Conference, chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The conference, now in its fourth edition, took place a day before the annual Raisina Dialogue, the flagship conference of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), co-organised with the Observer Research Foundation.

Founded in 2007 by Pannun, a U.S.-based attorney, the SFJ advocates “self-determination” for Sikhs in their “historic homeland” of Punjab, seeking to establish a sovereign state of Khalistan. The Indian government banned the organisation in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for anti-India activities. The Khalistani insurgency remains a dark chapter in India’s history, having led to the assassination of a Prime Minister. Its resurgence in several western countries has been a growing concern for India. Pro-Khalistani protests, often turning aggressive, have become a pattern. Most recently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was heckled, with pro-Khalistan slogans being raised, during his visit to London earlier this month, prompting the MEA to lodge a strong protest with the U.K. Diplomatic efforts to address the issue, particularly with Canada and the U.K., have often been met with a lacklustre response, frustrating India. However, recent allegations that Indian agencies attempted targeted killings of Khalistani sympathisers have strained bilateral ties with Canada and the U.S. Relations with the then Trudeau administration in Canada were tense, while under the Biden administration, India faced significant diplomatic pressure after a U.S. investigation charged an Indian citizen — allegedly linked to the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) — with orchestrating a plot to kill Pannun. The issue became so serious that Mr. Doval refrained from accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an official visit. The Trump administration, so far, appears less inclined to escalate the matter and may be more receptive to India’s concerns. While India continues to push for action against anti-India and separatist groups, it must however ensure that its efforts do not impact the by and large cohesive Indian diaspora abroad, nor affect India’s diplomatic relationships with partners.