In a remarkable turn of events, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officially designated Canada-based Sikh separatists as the primary politically motivated violent extremism (PMVE) threat for the first time in the country since the mid-1980s.
This designation comes at an interesting moment as there appears to be a diplomatic reset between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney, at the G7 summit. During the summit, they agreed to reset the relations that have deteriorated in recent years during Former PM Justin Trudeau when he told the press that Canadian intelligence indicated a credible relationship between the Indian government and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a designated Khalistani terrorist leader, close to the location of the murder in Surrey, British Columbia. The Indian government categorically denied the allegations and criticized the Canadian government for fostering space for extremist groups to operate in Canada. Now by restoring diplomatic normalcy, first by restoring high commissioners.
The CSIS report, released on the second anniversary of Nijjar’s killing, acknowledges that a small segment of Canadian-based Khalistani extremist groups poses a threat to national security and Canadian interests, largely due to the real or perceived Sikh extremism emerging from North America that has fueled India’s alleged foreign interference activities. While advocacy for the independence of Khalistan in a non-violent manner is not classified as extremism, the report’s unequivocal position affirms India’s well-known apprehension that anti-India elements are operating in Canada without any fear of recrimination.
Why the Khalistan Movement is a Global Concern for India and the World
The return of the Khalistan movement is a complex threat to many levels, especially with regard to internal security and international relations. For India, the Khalistan Movement is extremely dangerous and constitutes a direct threat to the country’s national security and integrity, as it did not only in the 1980s, when it peaked but also today, along with the insurgency in Kashmir and the continuing conflict in the North-East. The movement certainly peaked in the 1980s and 1990s, when the activities demonstrating Khalistani sentiments frequently included bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, massacres, and thousands of civilian deaths, not the least of which is the 1985 Air India bombing, which is still Canada’s deadliest terrorist act. Khalistan as a state has little traction in Punjab today, so at best, it is an “idea” that never dies for a tiny section of Sikhs, who have been aided by vested interests.
Globally, the issue impacts bilateral relations, especially with countries like Canada and the UK, where segments of the Sikh diaspora are active in supporting the movement. The diplomatic fallout from the Nijjar case between India and Canada highlights how deeply these issues can strain international ties. Furthermore, the involvement of foreign state actors, particularly Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), in supporting Khalistani extremists with refuge, training, arms, and funding, introduces a complex geopolitical dimension. The nexus with organized crime, including drug trafficking (narco-terrorism), poses a trans-national security challenge, as funds from illegal activities like cocaine smuggling are used to finance anti-India activities, including protests and referendums.
How the Militant Ideology is Spreading and Radicalizing Youths
The radicalization of youth and the spread of Khalistani ideology are driven by several interconnected factors:
Exploitation of Historical Grievances
Pro-Khalistani elements and the ISI leverage the narrative of injustices and killings faced by Sikhs during the separatist movement, particularly focusing on Operation Blue Star (1984) and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots (1984). They propagate a false narrative that Sikhs are a “persecuted minority” in India, which fuels the desire for a separate homeland among some in the diaspora, especially those who lack real-time exposure to India’s cultural dynamics and inter-religious harmony.
Diaspora Mobilization & Financing
A significant driver is the financial and logistical support from pro-Khalistan separatists based in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan. Funds are collected by radical members of organizations like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), and Khalistan Zindabad Force during Sikh diaspora meetings and religious occasions, then sent to intermediaries in Punjab and Pakistan. There are reports of money being sent back to families through informal channels (hawala) to pay for immigration, often to Canada, suggesting a well-oiled racket that connects financing to human trafficking for recruitment. Pro-Khalistani elements in Canada reportedly sponsor visas for Punjabi youth for low-skilled jobs (e.g., religious duties in gurdwaras) as a means to recruit and sustain their brigade by offering shelter and jobs to illegal immigrants and Indian students.
Overseas Training & Recruitment
Indian intelligence reports indicate that radical Sikhs in the UK have organized theoretical classes for youth radicalization in gurdwaras, where they are imparted training to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs) using common chemicals through live demonstrations. Illegal immigrants and fortune-seekers, often struggling with low pay abroad, are particularly vulnerable to recruitment by pro-Khalistan organizations in Europe. Recruits are taken to training camps, such as those in Lahore or on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, where they receive training in the use of assault rifles, automatic weapons, and IED fabrication.
State-Sponsored Agendas & Criminal Nexus
Pakistan’s ISI spy agency actively supports Khalistani terrorist organizations by providing refuge, training, arms, and funding. The ISI seeks to forge an understanding between Sikh extremist groups and Pakistan-based Islamist and Kashmir-centric terrorist outfits to target Indian interests. A symbiotic terrorist-gangster network has been created, where gangsters gain access to sophisticated weapons from across the border in return for providing shooters for targeted killings. Since 2019, the ISI has been using drones to offload weapons and drugs in border areas of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, promoting narco-terrorism to destabilize Punjab and radicalize Punjabi youth. A large narco-terror network busted in Canada (Project Pelican) had Khalistani links, with seized drug money financing anti-India activities, and intelligence pointing to ISI backing and ties to Mexican cartels.
Militant Groups & Ideological Organizations
Various proscribed terrorist organizations and ideological groups play a key role. These include Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), Khalistan Zindabad Force, and prominent organizations like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and the Canada-based Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF). SFJ, for instance, has openly associated with convicted Khalistan terrorists and those suspected of large-scale terror plots in India, funding legal defenses for them. These groups use gurdwaras abroad for their propaganda.
Grassroots & Religious Mobilization
Beyond formal organizations, religious and community gatherings are exploited. Radical elements organize meetings and conferences, such as the ‘Khalistan Declaration Day‘. Youth hired for religious duties in gurdwaras are brainwashed into the separatist movement, organizing anti-India protests and radical-religious congregations. Some political parties are even accused of charging fees for “letters” to help youth seek political asylum in Canada, falsely claiming persecution in India.
Online Propaganda & Social Media
Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are extensively used for misinformation campaigns. Campaigns like “Referendum 2020” have garnered significant attention online. Pro-Khalistani radicals also control some TV channels for Sikhs in the UK and radio stations (like Babbar Khalsa Radio), which are known for their anti-India tirades and glorification of slain Khalistani militants. The presence of “many little Punjabs” in Canada, as described in one source, reflects how these online and diaspora-based narratives are cultivated and spread.
How India is Reacting to the Issue?
India has adopted a multi-pronged approach to address the Khalistan issue:
Diplomatic Engagement and Pressure
India has consistently raised its concerns with foreign governments, particularly Canada and the UK, about Khalistani elements operating from their soil. It has shared detailed dossiers on Sikh radicalization and pressed for action against these groups. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney, there has been a “focused reset” in India-Canada ties, with steps taken to normalize the relationship after the diplomatic chill under Trudeau’s government. India has strongly denied allegations linking its government to the Nijjar killing, calling them “absurd” and “politically motivated”. India also insists on quid pro quo from countries like Canada, UK, and Germany for support against other terror organizations. Indian diplomats are encouraged to cultivate better relations with countries hosting these organizations and engage with the Sikh diaspora to counter misinformation.
Legal and Security Actions
The Indian government has imposed bans on pro-Khalistani organisations like Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), designated individuals such as Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and issued red corner notices against them.
Investigation and Prosecution
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted investigations, filed charge sheets on networks between terrorists and gangsters, and has the ability to deal with designated terrorist assets, and block the flow of terror funding by examining banking systems, dark web activity, hawala rackets, and working with cryptocurrency.
Cyber Measures
To combat Khalistani propaganda, the Indian government has embarked on measures such as suspending prominent Twitter accounts that glorify Khalistani rhetoric. To also help tackle this issue, the security services have been instructed to routinely monitor data and metadata of all content providers, even going into the extent of hiring cyberwarfare specialists, and blocking fake accounts via social media.
Border Security
A major recommendation was made to strengthen security measures on the borders using technology, which includes the use of infra-red sensors, laser beans, CCTV cameras, and anti-drone technologies to stem weaponry and drug imports from Pakistan.
Counter-Narrative and Social Economic Development
Recognizing that Khalistani factions are fabricating false narratives regarding disaffected youth, India seeks to counteract this by having significant presence on social media platforms, sharing positive outreach about Punjab, and working with think tanks and media globally. Moreover, the government recognizes the very real anger and frustration being expressed across Punjab as they face economic decline from government neglect and marginalized conditions themselves (as being perceived by Sikhs) likely to pave ground for anti-establishment thinking. Accordingly, revitalizing industries, creating meaningful employment opportunities for youth, and developing skill opportunities for youth across Punjab is a government priority. The aim is to win back the hearts and minds of the disaffected people and alleviate the feeling that Punjab has been given “step-motherly treatment”. There’s also an effort to emphasize the patriotism and national commitment of India’s Sikhs, countering the narrative that questions their loyalty.
Conclusion
Canada’s CSIS has recently recognized the emergence of Khalistani extremism from its territory, has signified an important development in emerging Khalistani extremism which helps to validate India’s long-held suspicions, and further bolsters the notion that this phenomenon is transnational. Although the violent Khalistan movement in the 1980s and 90s was nearly extinguished in Punjab through heavy police crackdowns, and nearly lost its voice among the Indigenous Sikh populations, the “idea” of Khalistan still remains alive through several segments of the Sikh diaspora abroad.
While the contemporary resurgence of Khalistani extremism has drawn on the exploitation of historical grievances, diaspora financing and mobilization, international training and recruitment, and a massive state-sponsored agenda investigated, especially by Pakistan ISI or in combination with narco-terrorism criminal networks, the impact of using online propaganda and social media to spread ideas and narratives, as well as to recruit, remains immense and produces massive youth radicalization.
India has responded with sustained diplomatic pressure, legal bans on extremist organizations, designation of individuals as terrorists, enhanced border security measures, and efforts to counter misinformation online. However, the long-term solution requires a comprehensive approach that not only strengthens security and intelligence cooperation with international partners but also addresses the socio-economic grievances within Punjab, promotes inclusive governance, and offers a path to justice and reconciliation for past hurts. Winning the confidence and hearts of the people of Punjab remains the fundamental and most effective strategy to definitively counter the lingering shadow of the Khalistan movement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Why did CSIS label Khalistani separatists as a top threat in Canada?
CSIS acknowledged that a segment of Canada-based Sikh extremists poses a serious national security threat, marking the first such designation since the 1980s. -
How does the Khalistan movement impact India and global relations?
The movement undermines India’s national security and strains diplomatic ties with countries like Canada and the UK due to extremist activities by diaspora elements. -
What steps is India taking to counter the Khalistan threat?
India is using diplomatic pressure, banning extremist groups, enhancing cyber and border security, and promoting socio-economic development in Punjab.
