Editing Khalistan movement (section)

== Militancy ==
During the late 1980s and the early 1990s, there was a dramatic rise in radical State militancy in Punjab. The 1984 military Operation Blue Star in the [[Golden Temple]] in Amritsar offended many Sikhs.{{sfnp|Pettigrew, The Sikhs of the Punjab|1995|p=24}} The separatists used this event, as well as the following [[1984 anti-Sikh riots]], to claim that the interest of Sikhs was not safe in India and to foster the spread of militancy among Sikhs in Punjab. Some sections of the Sikh diaspora also began join the separatists with financial and diplomatic support.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=128}}

A section of Sikhs turned to militancy in Punjab and several Sikh militant outfits proliferated in the 1980s and 1990s.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=129}} Some militant groups aimed to create an independent state through acts of violence directed at members of the Indian government, army, or forces. A large numbers of Sikhs condemned the actions of the militants.<ref name="JCSP1992">{{citation|first1=J. C. |last1=Aggarwal|title=Modern History of Punjab|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-CN0Q4g-dwC&pg=PA108|page=117|year=1992|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-431-0|first2=S. P.|last2=Agrawal}}</ref> According to [[anthropological]] analysis, one reason young men had for joining militant and other religious nationalist groups was for fun, excitement, and expressions of masculinity. Puri, Judge, and Sekhon (1999) suggest that illiterate/under-educated young men, lacking enough job prospects, had joined pro-Khalistan militant groups for the primary purpose of "fun."<ref name=":5">Puri, Harish K., Paramjit Singh Judge, and Jagrup Singh Sekhon. 1999. ''Terrorism in Punjab: Understanding Grassroots Reality''. New Delhi: Har-Anand Publications. pp. 68–71.</ref> They mention that the pursuit of Khalistan itself was the motivation for only 5% of "militants."{{sfnp|Van Dyke, The Khalistan Movement|2009|p=991}}<ref name=":5" />

=== Militant groups ===
{{See also|Khalistani groups}}
There are several militant Sikh groups, such as the Khalistan Council, that are currently functional and provides organization and guidance to the Sikh community. Multiple groups are organized across the world, coordinating their military efforts for Khalistan. Such groups were most active in 1980s and early 1990s, and have since receded in activity. These groups are largely defunct in India but they still have a political presence among the Sikh diaspora, especially in countries such as Pakistan where they are not proscribed by law.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=133}}

Most of these outfits were crushed by 1993 during the [[counter-insurgency]] operations. In recent years, active groups have included Babbar Khalsa, International Sikh Youth Federation, Dal Khalsa, and Bhindranwale Tiger Force. An unknown group before then, the Shaheed Khalsa Force claimed credit for the marketplace bombings in New Delhi in 1997. The group has never been heard of since.

Major pro-Khalistan militant outfits include:
* [[Babbar Khalsa]] International (BKI)
** Listed as a terrorist organisation in the [[European Union]],<ref name="EU_terror_list">{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_144/l_14420050608en00540058.pdf |title=Council Common Position 2005/427/CFSP of 6 June 2005 updating Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism and repealing Common Position 2005/220/CFSP |date=6 June 2005 |publisher=European Union |page=5 |access-date=31 May 2009 |archive-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601155954/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/oj/2005/l_144/l_14420050608en00540058.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Canada,<ref name="psepc.gc.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#bkbki13 |title=Currently listed entities (terrorist organizations-ed) |publisher=Public Safety Canada |access-date=31 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626183402/http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#bkbki13 |archive-date=26 June 2009}}</ref> India,<ref name="cbcca-extremism" /> and UK.<ref name="cbcca-extremism">{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/sikh-politics-canada/index.html |title=Sikh politics in Canada. Symbols and suits. Sikh extremism enters mainstream Canadian politics |last=Milewski |first=Terry |date=28 June 2007 |publisher=CBC |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=1 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601022355/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/sikh-politics-canada/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="UKBKlisting">{{cite web |url=http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/legislation/current-legislation/terrorism-act-2000/proscribed-groups |title=Proscribed terrorist groups |publisher=UK Office for Security and Counter Terrorism |access-date=24 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615073011/http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/legislation/current-legislation/terrorism-act-2000/proscribed-groups |archive-date=15 June 2009}}</ref>
** Included in the [[United States Department of State list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations|Terrorist Exclusion List]] of the U.S. Government in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |date = 2004-12-29 |title = Terrorist Exclusion List |publisher = U. S. [[Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism]] |url = http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123086.htm|access-date=2023-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513211402/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123086.htm |archive-date=2009-05-13}}</ref>
** Designated by the US and the Canadian courts for the bombing of [[Air India Flight 182]] on 27 June 2002.<ref name="cbcca-extremism"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/20123.pdf |title=Appendix F: Countering Terrorism on the Economic Front |publisher=US Department of State |page=2 |access-date=31 May 2009 |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110141125/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/20123.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan|Bhindranwala Tiger Force of Khalistan]] (BTFK; aka Bhindranwale Tiger Force, BTF)
** This group appears to have been formed in 1984 by [[Gurbachan Singh Manochahal]].
** Seems to have disbanded or integrated into other organisations after the death of Manochahal.<ref name="fightingbook">{{harvp|Mahmood|1996|p=328}}</ref>
** Listed in 1995 as one of the 4 "major militant groups" in the Khalistan movement.<ref name="TerrorismInContext">{{citation|title=Terrorism in Context|date=1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9nFyZaZGthgC|page=656|editor=Martha Crenshaw|publisher=Pennsylvania State University Press|isbn=978-0-271-01015-1|access-date=29 August 2020|archive-date=30 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330072139/https://books.google.com/books?id=9nFyZaZGthgC|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Khalistan Commando Force]] (KCF){{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=129}}
** Formed by the [[Sarbat Khalsa]] in 1986.<ref name="encycloextreme">{{citation |last=Atkins |first=Stephen E. |title=Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |page=404 |year=2004 |edition=illustrated |isbn=978-0-313-32485-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b8k4rEPvq_8C |access-date=26 June 2009 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330072209/https://books.google.com/books?id=b8k4rEPvq_8C |url-status=live }}</ref> It does not figure in the list of terrorist organisations declared by the [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] (DOS).<ref>{{Cite web |date = 2008-04-08 |title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations |publisher = [[U. S. Department of State]]|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513211359/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm |archive-date=2009-05-13}}</ref>
** According to the DOS<ref name="KCFconvict" /> and the Assistant Inspector General of the [[Punjab Police (India)|Punjab Police]] Intelligence Division,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2008/vol2/html/101353.htm |title=Law Enforcement Cases: International Narcotics Control Strategy Report: Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs |date=March 2008 |publisher=US Department of State |access-date=8 June 2009 |archive-date=16 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816010344/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/inl/rls/nrcrpt/2008/vol2/html/101353.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> the KCF was responsible for the deaths of thousands in India, including the 1995 assassination of Chief Minister [[Beant Singh (politician)|Beant Singh]].<ref name="KCFconvict" />
* [[Khalistan Liberation Army]] (KLA)
** Reputed to have been a wing of, associated with, or a breakaway group of the Khalistan Liberation Force.
* [[Khalistan Liberation Force]]{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=129}}
** Formed in 1986
** Believed to be responsible for several bombings of civilian targets in India during the 1980s and 1990s,<ref name="1995patterns">{{cite web|title=1995 Patterns of Global Terrorism|url=https://fas.org/irp/threat/terror_95/terasi.htm#India|last=Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism|date=April 1996|publisher=Federation of American Scientists|access-date=30 May 2009|archive-date=22 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122200013/http://fas.org/irp/threat/terror_95/terasi.htm#India|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN96may22">{{Cite news |last = Pratap |first = Anita |author-link = Anita Pratap |date = 1996-05-22 |title = Bus explosion in India kills at least 14: It's the second bombing in two days |publisher = [[CNN]] |publication-place = New Delhi |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9605/22/india.bomb/index.html|access-date=2023-01-14|archive-date=2012-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108074743/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9605/22/india.bomb/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> sometimes in conjunction with [[Islamism|Islamist]] [[Kashmir conflict|Kashmir separatists]].<ref name="CNN96may21">{{Cite web|title=CNN – Fatal bomb meant to disrupt – April 21, 1996|url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9604/21/india.bomb/index.html|access-date=2023-01-14|website=cnn.com|archive-date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108074805/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9604/21/india.bomb/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Khalistan Zindabad Force]] (KZF)
** Listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU.<ref name="EU_terror_list" />
** Last major suspected activity was a bomb blast in 2006 at the [[Inter State Bus Terminals|Inter-State Bus Terminus]] in [[Jalandhar]].<ref>{{cite news|date=19 June 2006|title=KZF behind Jalandhar blasts|work=The Indian Express|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kzf-behind-jalandhar-blasts/6802/|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-date=5 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605145526/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kzf-behind-jalandhar-blasts/6802|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[International Sikh Youth Federation]] (ISYF),{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=129}} based in the United Kingdom.
* [[All India Sikh Students Federation]] (AISSF)
* [[Dashmesh Regiment]]
* [[Shaheed Khalsa Force]]

=== Abatement ===

The [[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] found that Sikh extremism had decreased significantly from 1992 to 1997, although a 1997 report noted that "Sikh militant cells are active internationally and extremists gather funds from overseas Sikh communities."<ref name="uspatterns">{{cite web |url=https://1997-2001.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/1997Report/backg.html |title=Patterns of Global Terrorism: 1997 – appendix B |year=1997 |publisher=U. S. Department of State |access-date=25 May 2009 |archive-date=23 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123191315/http://1997-2001.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/1997Report/backg.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1999, [[Kuldip Nayar]], writing for [[Rediff.com]], stated in an article, titled "It is fundamentalism again", that the Sikh "masses" had rejected terrorists.<ref name="rediffeject">{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/22nayar.htm |title=It is fundamentalism again |last=Nayar |first=Kuldip |date=22 February 1999 |work=Rediff.com |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=5 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105115345/http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/feb/22nayar.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
By 2001, Sikh extremism and the demand for Khalistan had all but abated.<ref group="lower-roman">{{harvp|Jodhka|2001}}: "Not only has the once powerful Khalistan movement virtually disappeared, even the appeal of identity seems to have considerably declined during the last couple of years."</ref>

Reported in his paper, titled "From Bhindranwale to Bin Laden: Understanding Religious Violence", Director [[Mark Juergensmeyer]] of the Orfalea Centre for Global & International Studies, [[University of California, Santa Barbara|UCSB]], interviewed a militant who said that "the movement is over," as many of his colleagues had been killed, imprisoned, or driven into hiding, and because public support was gone.<ref name="dubiousreference1">{{cite web |url=http://juergensmeyer.com/files/ASU%20volume-%2006CHAP02_JUERGENSMEYER.pdf |title=From Bhindranwale to Bin Laden: Understanding Religious Violence |last=Juergensmeyer |first=Mark |date=14 October 2004 |publisher=Self |page=30 |access-date=26 May 2009 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713123550/http://juergensmeyer.com/files/ASU%20volume-%2006CHAP02_JUERGENSMEYER.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>