Editing Khalistan movement (section)

==== 2010s ====
Activities in the 2010s by Khalistani militants include the [[Tarn Taran Sahib|Tarn Taran]] blast, in which a police crackdown arrested 4 terrorists, one of whom revealed they were ordered by [[Sikhs for Justice]] to kill multiple Dera leaders in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-four-khalistan-zindabad-force-terrorists-arrested-in-taran-taran-1602155-2019-09-23|title=Punjab: Four Khalistan Zindabad Force terrorists arrested in Taran Taran|first=Manjeet|last=Sehgal|date=23 September 2019|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215193336/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-four-khalistan-zindabad-force-terrorists-arrested-in-taran-taran-1602155-2019-09-23|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nia-demands-custody-of-4-in-tarn-taran-blast-case-872611|title=NIA demands custody of 4 in Tarn Taran blast case|last=Service|first=Tribune News|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227101954/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nia-demands-custody-of-4-in-tarn-taran-blast-case-872611|url-status=live}}</ref> Pro-Khalistan organisations such as [[Dal Khalsa (International)|Dal Khalsa]] are also active outside India, supported by a section of the Sikh diaspora.<ref>{{cite news|last=Punj|first=Balbair|date=16 June 2005|title=The Ghost of Khalistan|newspaper=The Sikh Times|url=http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_061605a.html|access-date=23 January 2007|archive-date=4 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204053015/http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_061605a.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 25 December, there also have been inputs by multiple agencies about a possible attack in Punjab by Babbar Khalsa and [[Khalistan Zindabad Force]], according to Indian Media sources, are allegedly in contact with their Pakistani handlers and are trying to smuggle arms across the border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-terror-attacks-in-punjab-being-planned-by-pro-khalistan-outfits-with-pak-s-support-intelligence-sources-2806891|title=Terror attacks in Punjab being planned by pro-Khalistan outfits with Pak's support: Intelligence sources|date=2019-12-26|website=DNA India|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227101955/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-terror-attacks-in-punjab-being-planned-by-pro-khalistan-outfits-with-pak-s-support-intelligence-sources-2806891|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/high-alert-declared-after-ib-picks-up-intercepts-on-possible-terror-attack-in-punjab-3003706.html|title=High alert declared after IB picks up intercepts on possible terror attack in Punjab|last=Nanjappa|first=Vicky|date=2019-12-26|website=Oneindia|language=en|access-date=2019-12-27|archive-date=27 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227101956/https://www.oneindia.com/india/high-alert-declared-after-ib-picks-up-intercepts-on-possible-terror-attack-in-punjab-3003706.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2015, a congregation of the Sikh community (i.e. a [[Sarbat Khalsa]]) was called in response to recent unrest in the Punjab region. The Sarbat Khalsa adopted 13 resolutions to strengthen Sikh institutions and traditions. The 12th resolution reaffirmed the resolutions adopted by the Sarbat Khalsa in 1986, including the declaration of the sovereign state of Khalistan.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Official Resolutions From Sarbat Khalsa 2015|url=https://www.sikh24.com/2015/11/11/official-resolutions-from-sarbat-khalsa-2015/|website=Sikh24.com|date=11 November 2015|access-date=2015-11-12|archive-date=12 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151112204950/http://www.sikh24.com/2015/11/11/official-resolutions-from-sarbat-khalsa-2015/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Moreover, signs in favour of Khalistan were raised when SAD (Amritsar) President Simranjeet Singh Mann met with [[Surat Singh Khalsa]], who was admitted to [[Dayanand Medical College & Hospital]] (DMCH). While Mann was arguing with ACP Satish Malhotra, supporters standing at the main gate of DMCH raised Khalistan signs in the presence of heavy police force. After a confrontation with the police authorities that lasted about 15–20 minutes, Mann was allowed to meet Khalsa along with ADCP Paramjeet Singh Pannu.<ref>{{cite web|title=Khalistan slogans raised as Mann comes to meet Khalsa|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-and-haryana/khalistan-slogans-raised-as-mann-comes-to-meet-khalsa/|date=25 July 2015|website=The Indian Express|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827103746/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-and-haryana/khalistan-slogans-raised-as-mann-comes-to-meet-khalsa/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Maintaining persistent connection their culture and religion, the Sikh diaspora outside India is seen increasingly supporting the movement by means of financial support, propaganda and political lobbying in the countries they reside and taking a prominent role in driving the movement. Emboldened by expansive political and financial ties, the Diaspora has used gurudwaras, among other available establishments as such, to disperse financial and diplomatic aid to the movement in Punjab and modern communication modes such as the internet and social media to rally support for it.<ref name="stsfor.org">{{cite web |title=Probable Resurgence of the Khalistan Movement: Role of the Sikh Diaspora – Science, Technology and Security forum |url=http://stsfor.org/content/probable-resurgence-khalistan-movement-role-sikh-diaspora |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016211428/http://stsfor.org/content/probable-resurgence-khalistan-movement-role-sikh-diaspora |archive-date=16 October 2015 |access-date=2 April 2023 |website=stsfor.org }}</ref>

Recently, many signs have been raised in several places in support of the Khalistan movement, although the [[Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada]] (IRB) reports that Sikhs who support Khalistan may themselves be detained and tortured.<ref>{{cite web|title=Responses to Information Requests|url=https://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/country-information/rir/Pages/index.aspx?doc=455887&pls=1|date=5 June 2018|website=irb-cisr.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=14 August 2019|archive-date=14 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814162713/https://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/country-information/rir/Pages/index.aspx%3Fdoc%3D455887%26pls%3D1|url-status=live}}</ref> Notably, on the 31st anniversary of [[Operation Bluestar]], pro-Khalistan signs were raised in Punjab, resulting in 25 Sikh youths being detained by police.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pro-Khalistan slogans raised on Bluestar anniversary in Punjab|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/481914/pro-khalistan-slogans-raised-bluestar.html|date=6 June 2015|website=Deccan Herald|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=25 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725013858/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/481914/pro-khalistan-slogans-raised-bluestar.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Pro-Khalistan signs were also raised during a function of [[List of chief ministers of Punjab, India|Punjabi Chief Minister]] [[Parkash Singh Badal]]. Two members of SAD-A, identified as Sarup Singh Sandha and Rajindr Singh Channa, raised pro-Khalistan and anti-Badal signs during the chief minister's speech.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pro-Khalistan slogans raised during Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal's function|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-and-haryana/pro-khalistan-slogans-raised-during-punjab-cm-parkash-singh-badals-function/|date=26 July 2015|website=The Indian Express|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=29 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150829094227/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-and-haryana/pro-khalistan-slogans-raised-during-punjab-cm-parkash-singh-badals-function/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In retrospect, the Khalistan movement has failed to reach its objectives in India due to several reasons:
* Heavy Police crackdown on the separatists under the leadership of [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] chief [[KPS Gill]].<ref name="HT_New2018" /> Several militant leaders were killed and others surrendered and rehabilitated.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=990}}
* Gill credits the decline to change in the policies by adding provision for an adequate number of police and security forces to deal with the militancy. The clear political will from the government without any interference.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=990}}
* Lack of a clear political concept of 'Khalistan' even to the extremist supporters. As per Kumar (1997), the name which was wishful thinking only represented their revulsion against the Indian establishment and did not find any alternative to it.<ref name="Kumar_book">{{citation|last=Kumar|first=Ram Narayan|title=The Sikh unrest and the Indian state: politics, personalities, and historical retrospective|year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WD9uAAAAMAAJ|publisher=Ajanta|isbn=978-81-202-0453-9}} quoted in [http://www.rediff.com/news/feb/22sikh.htm Rediff On the Net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815170823/http://www.rediff.com/news/feb/22sikh.htm |date=15 August 2018 }}</ref>
* In the later stages of the movement, militants lacked an ideological motivation.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=990}}
* The entry of criminals and government loyalists into its ranks further divided the groups.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=990}}
* Loss of sympathy and support from the Sikh population of Punjab.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=990}}
* The divisions among the Sikhs also undermined this movement. According to Pettigrew non-[[Jat people|Jat]] urban Sikhs did not want to live in a country of "Jatistan."{{sfnp|Pettigrew, The Sikhs of the Punjab|1995|pp=188–197}}{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=992}} Further division was caused as the people in the region traditionally preferred police and military service as career options. The [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] had a majority of [[Jat Sikh]]s and the conflict was referred as ''"Jat against Jat"'' by Police Chief Gill.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=990}}
* Moderate factions of Akali Dal led by [[Parkash Singh Badal|Prakash Singh Badal]] reclaimed the political positions in the state through all three assembly (namely parliamentary) and [[Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee|SGPC]] elections. The dominance of traditional political parties was reasserted over the militant-associated factions.{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=991}}
* The increased vigilance by security forces in the region against rise of separatist elements.<ref name="HT_Period">{{cite news|date=19 March 2016|title=No chance of another Khalistan movement in Punjab: Defence experts|newspaper=Hindustan Times|agency=ANI|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/no-chance-of-another-khalistan-movement-in-punjab-defence-experts/story-o9MSyS8jNS79kQo9cNIGHP.html|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506103911/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/no-chance-of-another-khalistan-movement-in-punjab-defence-experts/story-o9MSyS8jNS79kQo9cNIGHP.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The confidence building measures adopted by the Sikh community helped in rooting out the Khalistan movement.<ref name="HT_Period" />

Simrat Dhillon (2007), writing for the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, noted that while a few groups continued to fight, "the movement has lost its popular support both in India and within the Diaspora community."<ref name="SikhDiaspora">{{cite web|title=The Sikh Diaspora and the Quest for Khalistan: A Search for Statehood or for Self-preservation?|url=http://www.ipcs.org/issue_briefs/issue_brief_pdf/1787132181IPCS-ResearchPaper12-SimratDhillon.pdf|last=Dhillon|first=Simrat|date=December 2007|publisher=Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies|access-date=26 May 2009|archive-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817012224/http://www.ipcs.org/issue_briefs/issue_brief_pdf/1787132181IPCS-ResearchPaper12-SimratDhillon.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>