Editing Khalistan movement (section)

====Rajiv-Longowal Accord====
{{main|Punjab accord}}
{{More citations needed section|talk=Rajiv-Longowal_Accord_missing_citations|date=September 2019}}<!-- There are claims below related to Khalistan, which are not made in main article -->

Many Sikh and Hindu groups, as well as organisations not affiliated to any religion, have attempted to establish peace between the Khalistan proponents and the Government of India.{{Citation needed|date=September 2019}} Akalis continued to witness radicalization of Sikh politics, fearing disastrous consequences.<ref name=":1" /> In response, President [[Harchand Singh Longowal]] reinstated the head of the Akali Dal and pushed for a peace initiative that reiterated the importance of Hindu-Sikh amity, condemning Sikh extremist violence, therefore declaring that the Akali Dal was not in favor of Khalistan.

In 1985, the [[Government of India]] attempted to seek a political solution to the grievances of the Sikhs through the [[Rajiv-Longowal Accord]], which took place between Longowal and Prime Minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. The Accord{{snd}}recognizing the religious, territorial, and economic demands of the Sikhs that were thought to be non-negotiable under Indira Gandhi's tenure{{snd}}agreed to establish commissions and independent tribunals in order to resolve the Chandigarh issue and the river dispute, laying the basis for Akali Dal's victory in the coming elections.<ref name=":1" />

Though providing a basis for a return to normality, Chandigarh evidently remained an issue and the agreement was denounced by Sikh militants who refused to give up the demand for an independent Khalistan. These extremists, who were left unappeased, reacted by assassinating Longowal.<ref name="LA_accord" /> Such behavior lead to the dismissal of negotiations, whereby both Congress and the Akali parties accused each other of aiding terrorism.<ref name=":1" />

The Indian Government pointed to the involvement of a "foreign hand," referring to Pakistan's abetting of the movement. Punjab noted to the Indian Government that militants were able to obtain sophisticated arms through sources outside the country and by developing links with sources within the country.<ref name=":1" /> As such, the Government believed that large illegal flows of arms were flowing through the borders of India, with Pakistan being responsible for trafficking arms. India claimed that Pakistan provided sanctuary, arms, money, and moral support to the militants, though most of the accusations were based on circumstantial evidence.<ref name=":1" />