Editing Khalistan movement (section)

== Outside of India ==
Operation Blue Star and its violent aftermaths popularized the demand for Khalistan among many Sikhs dispersed globally.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=136}} Involvement of sections of Sikh diaspora turned out to be important for the movement as it provided the diplomatic and financial support. It also enabled Pakistan to become involved in the fueling of the movement. Sikhs in UK, Canada and USA arranged for cadres to travel to Pakistan for military and financial assistance. Some Sikh groups abroad even declared themselves as the Khalistani government in exile.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=128}}

Sikh places of worship, gurdwaras, provided the geographic and institutional coordination for the Sikh community. Sikh political factions have used the gurdwaras as a forum for political organization. The gurdwaras sometimes served as the site for mobilization of diaspora for Khalistan movement directly by raising funds. Indirect mobilization was sometimes provided by promoting a stylized version of conflict and Sikh history. The rooms in some gurdwara exhibit pictures of Khalistani leaders along with paintings of martyrs from Sikh history.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=132}}

Gurdwaras also host speakers and musical groups that promote and encourage the movement. Among the diasporas, Khalistan issue has been a divisive issue within gurdwaras. These factions have fought over the control of gurdwaras and their political and financial resources. The fights between pro and anti-Khalistan factions over gurdwaras often included violent acts and bloodshed as reported from UK and North America. The gurdwaras with Khalistani leadership allegedly funnel the collected funds into activities supporting the movement.{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=132}}

Different groups of Sikhs in the diaspora organize the convention of international meetings to facilitate communication and establish organizational order. In April 1981 the first "International Convention of Sikhs," was held in New York and was attended by some 200 delegates. In April 1987 the third convention was held in Slough, Berkshire where the Khalistan issue was addressed. This meeting's objective was to "build unity in the Khalistan movement."{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=132}}

All these factors further strengthened the emerging nationalism among Sikhs. Sikh organizations launched many fund-raising efforts that were used for several purposes. After 1984 one of the objectives was the promotion of the Sikh version of "ethnonational history" and the relationship with the Indian state. The Sikh diaspora also increased their efforts to build institutions to maintain and propagate their ethnonational heritage. A major objective of these educational efforts was to publicize a different face to the non-Sikh international community who regarded the Sikhs as "terrorists".{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=137}}

In 1993, Khalistan was briefly admitted in the [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]], but was suspended in a few months. The membership suspension was made permanent on 22 January 1995.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Downing|first1=John D. H.|title=Encyclopedia of Social Movement Media|date=2011|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OSkKAOoaSGIC|page=290|publisher=Sage|isbn=978-0-7619-2688-7|access-date=25 October 2018|archive-date=30 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330072135/https://books.google.com/books?id=OSkKAOoaSGIC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Simmons |first1=Mary Kate |title=Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization: yearbook |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers |isbn=978-90-411-0223-2 |page=187 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWB3Bv3vuyMC&q=Khalistan%20Unrepresented%20Nations%20and%20Peoples%20Organisation&pg=PA187 |year=1998 |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330072134/https://books.google.com/books?id=rWB3Bv3vuyMC&q=Khalistan%20Unrepresented%20Nations%20and%20Peoples%20Organisation&pg=PA187 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Edward T.G. Anderson, an associate professor in history, describes the Khalistan movement outside India as follows:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anderson |first=Edward T. G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JEHyEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA333 |title=Hindu Nationalism in the Indian Diaspora: Transnational Politics and British Multiculturalism |date=2024-01-01 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-778328-3 |pages=333 |language=en}}</ref>{{blockquote|text=One example is the Khalistan movement, a separatist struggle for Sikh self-determination in Punjab, which in the diaspora has manifested in highly conspicuous and provocative protests, pugnacious rhetoric, violent tensions between different South Asian communities, and 'long-distance' support for militant secessionists.|author=Edward T.G. Anderson|title=''Hindu Nationalism in the Indian Diaspora'' |source=Oxford University Press (2024)}}

===Pakistan===
Pakistan has long aspired to dismember India through its ''[[Bleed India with a Thousand Cuts|Bleed India]]'' strategy. Even before the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]], then a member of the military regime of General [[Yahya Khan]], stated, "Once the back of Indian forces is broken in the east, Pakistan should occupy the whole of Eastern India and make it a permanent part of East Pakistan.... Kashmir should be taken at any price, even the Sikh Punjab and turned into Khalistan."{{sfnp|Behera, Demystifying Kashmir|2007|pp=87–88}}

The Sikh separatist leader [[Jagjit Singh Chohan]] said that during his talks with [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Pakistani prime minister]] that [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] affirmed "we'll help you and make it the capital of Khalistan"; Bhutto wanted revenge over Bangladesh.<ref name="ChohanIT"/>

General [[Zia-ul Haq]], who succeeded Bhutto as the Head of State, attempted to reverse the traditional antipathy between Sikhs and Muslims arising from the [[Partition of India|partition violence]] by restoring Sikh shrines in Pakistan and opening them for Sikh pilgrimage. The expatriate Sikhs from England and North America that visited these shrines were at the forefront of the calls for Khalistan. During the pilgrims' stay in Pakistan, the Sikhs were exposed to Khalistani propaganda, which would not be openly possible in India.{{sfnp|Haqqani, Pakistan Between the Mosque and Military|2010|pp=270–271}}{{sfnp|Sirrs, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate|2016|p=167}}{{sfnp|Fair, Diaspora Involvement in Insurgencies|2005|p=133}}

The ISI chief, General Abdul Rahman, opened a cell within ISI with the objective of supporting the "[Sikhs']...freedom struggle against India". Rahman's colleagues in ISI took pride in the fact that "the Sikhs were able to set the whole province on fire. They knew who to kill, where to plant a bomb and which office to target." General Hamid Gul argued that keeping Punjab destabilized was equivalent to the Pakistan Army having an extra division at no cost. Zia-ul Haq, on the other hand, consistently practised the art of plausible denial.{{sfnp|Haqqani, Pakistan Between the Mosque and Military|2010|pp=270–271}}{{sfnp|Sirrs, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate|2016|p=167}} The Khalistan movement was brought to a decline only after India fenced off a part of the Punjab border with Pakistan and the [[Benazir Bhutto]] government agreed to joint patrols of the border by Indian and Pakistani troops.{{sfnp|Haqqani, Pakistan Between the Mosque and Military|2010|p=272}}

In 2006, an American court convicted Khalid Awan, a Muslim and Canadian of Pakistani descent, of "supporting terrorism" by providing money and financial services to the Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan.<ref name="KCFconvict">{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2006/2006Dec20.html |title=U.S. Court Convicts Khalid Awan for Supporting Khalistan Commando Force |date=20 December 2006 |publisher=The United States Attorney's Office |access-date=26 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115092626/http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/2006/2006Dec20.html |archive-date=15 January 2012 }}</ref> KCF members had carried out deadly attacks against Indian civilians causing thousands of deaths. Awan frequently travelled to Pakistan and was alleged by the U.S. officials to have links to Sikh and Muslim extremists, as well as Pakistani intelligence.<ref name="theglobeandmail">{{cite news |title=Canadian gets 14 years for funding terrorists |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadian-gets-14-years-for-funding-terrorists/article693461/ |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=13 September 2007 |access-date=5 October 2018 |archive-date=24 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924210508/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadian-gets-14-years-for-funding-terrorists/article693461/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, India's [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] indicated that Pakistan's [[Inter-Services Intelligence]] organisation was trying to revive Sikh militancy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jun/10vicky.htm |title=200 Pak organisations raise funds for terror: IB |last=Nanjappa |first=Vicky |date=10 June 2008 |work=Rediff.com |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722112257/https://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jun/10vicky.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== United States ===
''[[The New York Times]]'' reported in June 1984 that Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] conveyed to [[Helmut Schmidt]] and [[Willy Brandt]], both of them being former Chancellors of [[West Germany]], that United States' [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) was involved in causing unrest in Punjab. It also reported that ''[[The Indian Express]]'' quoted anonymous officials from India's intelligence establishment as saying that the CIA "masterminded" a plan to support the acolytes of [[Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale]], who died during Operation Blue Star, by smuggling weapons for them through Pakistan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/16/world/india-talks-of-cia-role-in-unrest.html|title=India Talks of C.I.A. Role in Unrest|last=Markham|first=James M.|date=1984-06-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-11-28|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=28 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128122755/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/16/world/india-talks-of-cia-role-in-unrest.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The United States embassy denied this report's findings.<ref name=":0" />

According to [[B. Raman]], former Additional Secretary in the [[Cabinet Secretariat (India)|Cabinet Secretariat]] of India and a senior official of the [[Research and Analysis Wing]], the United States initiated a plan in complicity with Pakistan's General [[Yahya Khan]] in 1971 to support an insurgency for Khalistan in Punjab.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CIA-ISI-encouraged-Sikh-terrorism/articleshow/2235406.cms|title=CIA, ISI encouraged Sikh terrorism|date=26 July 2007|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=28 November 2019|archive-date=1 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401114744/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/CIA-ISI-encouraged-Sikh-terrorism/articleshow/2235406.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/us-pak-isi-had-a-hand-in-punjab-militancy-book/story-kBFu6v3LLWKjrnOYUqP2MO.html|title=US, Pak ISI had a hand in Punjab militancy: Book|date=2007-07-26|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en|access-date=2019-12-01|archive-date=6 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206105400/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/us-pak-isi-had-a-hand-in-punjab-militancy-book/story-kBFu6v3LLWKjrnOYUqP2MO.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2023, the United States alleged a plot by the Indian government to assassinate the New York–based Sikh separatist [[Gurpatwant Singh Pannun]], a spokesperson for the pro-Khalistan group [[Sikhs for Justice]]. On November 29, 2023, an Indian government employee was the target of an indictment in New York for their alleged role in the assassination plot.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nakashima |first1= Ellen |last2=Shih |first2= Gerry |last3=Amanda |first3= Coletta |date= 29 November 2023 |title= U.S. prosecutors allege assassination plot of Sikh separatist directed by Indian government employee |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/29/india-us-assassination-plot-sikh-pannun/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>

===Canada===
Immediately after Operation Blue Star, authorities were unprepared for how quickly extremism spread and gained support in Canada, with extremists "...threatening to kill thousands of Hindus by a number of means, including blowing up Air India flights."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=86965 |title=Sikh extremism spread fast in Canada |date=23 May 2007 |publisher=expressindia.com |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=14 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014231319/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=86965 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://ia.rediff.com/news/2007/may/23ai1.htm |title=Sikh extremism in Canada mushroomed very quickly |date=23 May 2007 |work=rediff.com |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=28 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328234650/http://ia.rediff.com/news/2007/may/23ai1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Canadian [[Member of Parliament]] [[Ujjal Dosanjh]], a moderate Sikh, stated that he and others who spoke out against Sikh extremism in the 1980s faced a "reign of terror".<ref name="THESTAR">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/278833 |title=The reign of terror is still there |last=Brown |first=Jim |date=22 November 2007 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012001721/http://www.thestar.com/article/278833 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 18 November 1998, the Canada-based Sikh journalist [[Tara Singh Hayer]] was gunned down by suspected Khalistani militants. The publisher of the ''Indo-Canadian Times'', a Canadian Sikh and once-vocal advocate of the armed struggle for Khalistan, he had criticised the bombing of [[Air India Flight 182]], and was to testify about a conversation he overheard concerning the bombing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/11/17/a-true-sikh-martyr-jonathan-kay-on-the-10th-anniversary-of-the-assassination-of-tara-singh-hayer.aspx |title=A true Sikh martyr: Jonathan Kay on the 10th anniversary of the assassination of Tara Singh Hayer |last=Kay |first=Jonathan |date=17 November 2008 |work=The National Post |access-date=7 June 2009 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=lofbook>{{Cite book |last=Bolan |first=Kim |title=Loss of Faith: How the Air-India Bombers Got Away With Murder |publisher=McClelland & Stewart |date=2006 |edition=Paperback |at=p.&nbsp;388 (Chapters 6 and 7) |isbn=978-0-7710-1131-3}}</ref> On 24 January 1995,<ref name=sikhtimesBK>{{cite news |url=http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_121403a.html |title=Testimony: Babbar Khalsa Ordered Tara Singh Hayer Slaying |date=14 December 2003 |publisher=CanWest News Service |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928230802/http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_121403a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Tarsem Singh Purewal, editor of Britain's Punjabi-language weekly ''Des Pardes'', was killed as he was closing his office in [[Southall]]. There is speculation that the murder was related to Sikh extremism, which Purewal may have been investigating. Another theory is that he was killed in retaliation for revealing the identity of a young rape victim.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/748866.stm |title=Call for end to Sikh murder mystery |last=Summers |first=Chris |date=2 June 2000 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112015905/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/748866.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4354435.stm |title=Call for police to solve Sikh murder |last=Summers |first=Chris |date=17 March 2005 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=26 December 2011 |archive-date=7 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507180120/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4354435.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Terry Milewski]] reported in a 2007 documentary for the CBC that a minority within Canada's Sikh community was gaining political influence even while publicly supporting terrorist acts in the struggle for an independent Sikh state.<ref name="cbcca-extremism" /> In response, the [[World Sikh Organization of Canada]] (WSO), a Canadian Sikh human rights group that opposes violence and extremism,<ref name="WSO website">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsikh.ca/ |title=Netfirms &#124; This site is temporarily unavailable |publisher=Worldsikh.ca |access-date=2015-09-27 |archive-date=1 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101222809/http://worldsikh.ca/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> sued the CBC for "defamation, slander, and libel", alleging that Milewski linked it to terrorism and damaged the reputation of the WSO within the Sikh community.<ref name="WSOsuesCBC">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/07/11/sikh_organization_sues_cbc.html |title=Sikh organization sues CBC |last=Grewal |first=San |work=Toronto Star |date=11 July 2007 |access-date=27 January 2020 |archive-date=27 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127002733/https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/07/11/sikh_organization_sues_cbc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, however, the WSO unconditionally abandoned "any and all claims" made in its lawsuit.

Canadian journalist [[Kim Bolan]] has written extensively on Sikh extremism. Speaking at the [[Fraser Institute]] in 2007, she reported that she still received death threats over her coverage of the 1985 Air India bombing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rest_of_World/Canadian_journalist_hits_out_at_Sikh_extremism/articleshow/2164926.cms |title=Canadian journalist hits out at Sikh extremism |date=1 July 2007 |work=The Times of India }}{{Dead link |date=September 2013 |bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>

In 2008, a CBC report stated that "a disturbing brand of extremist politics has surfaced" at some of the [[Vaisakhi]] and the Buddhist [[Visakha Puja|Vesak]] parades in Canada,<ref name="cbcca-extremism"/> and The Trumpet agreed with the CBC assessment.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thetrumpet.com/?q=3980.2206.0.0 |title=Sikh Terrorism Enters Politics in Canada |last=Morley |first=Robert |publisher=The Trumpet |access-date=25 May 2009 |archive-date=2 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602025537/http://www.thetrumpet.com/?q=3980.2206.0.0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Two leading Canadian Sikh politicians refused to attend the parade in [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]], saying it was a glorification of terrorism.<ref name="cbcca-extremism"/> In 2008, Dr. [[Manmohan Singh]], Prime Minister of India, expressed his concern that there might be a resurgence of Sikh extremism.<ref name="RNWSikhExt">{{cite news |url=http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/asiapacific/080306-india-sikh-extremism |title=India PM warns against renewed Sikh extremism |last=Thorne |first=Barry |date=6 March 2008 |publisher=Radio Netherlands Worldwide |archive-url=https://archive.today/20080310231437/http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/asiapacific/080306-india-sikh-extremism |archive-date=10 March 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="KBresurgent">{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2be0865c-29ba-4dab-9bcc-d945e75007c1 |title=Sikh separatist threat on rise in Canada: Indian PM warns of resurgent threat in Canada |last=Bolan |first=Kim |date=11 March 2008 |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112020313/http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=2be0865c-29ba-4dab-9bcc-d945e75007c1 |archive-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>

There has been some controversy over Canada's response to the Khalistan movement. After Amarinder Singh's refusal to meet [[Canadian Prime Minister]] [[Justin Trudeau]] in 2017, calling him a "Khalistani sympathizer", Singh ultimately met with Trudeau on 22 February 2018 over the issue.<ref>{{cite news |title=Amarinder Singh meets Justin Trudeau and Canada's 'Khalistani sympathiser' minister |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/amarinder-singh-meets-justin-trudeau-and-canadas-defence-minister-khalistani-sympathiser-harjit-sajjan/articleshow/63012999.cms |website=The Times of India |date=21 February 2018 |access-date=8 June 2018 |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011120721/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/amarinder-singh-meets-justin-trudeau-and-canadas-defence-minister-khalistani-sympathiser-harjit-sajjan/articleshow/63012999.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> Trudeau assured Singh that his country would not support the revival of the separatist movement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Surjit |last2=Sharma |first2=Anil |title=Khalistan figures in Trudeau-Amarinder talks, Punjab CM hands over list of 9 Canada-based radicals |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/amarinder-singh-raises-khalistan-issue-in-talks-with-justin-trudeau/story-gHiDSlJZky04rWRyWr4cSJ.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=21 February 2018 |access-date=8 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144851/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/amarinder-singh-raises-khalistan-issue-in-talks-with-justin-trudeau/story-gHiDSlJZky04rWRyWr4cSJ.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="india-canada-list"/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Connolly|first1=Amanda|title=Jagmeet Singh defends speaking at Sikh separatist rally in 2015|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4083047/jagmeet-singh-sikh-separatist-rally/|website=Global News|access-date=22 May 2018|archive-date=23 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523104818/https://globalnews.ca/news/4083047/jagmeet-singh-sikh-separatist-rally/|url-status=live}}</ref> Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal was quoted saying Khalistan is "no issue, either in Canada or in Punjab".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/khalistan-no-issue-either-in-canada-or-punjab-sukhbir/story-BnMycPea65L76wdMStQjMP.html|title=Khalistan no issue either in Canada or Punjab, says Sukhbir Badal|date=2018-02-23|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=11 March 2018|archive-date=11 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311141558/https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/khalistan-no-issue-either-in-canada-or-punjab-sukhbir/story-BnMycPea65L76wdMStQjMP.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2020 report by Canadian ex-journalist [[Terry Milewski]] criticized the Khalistan movement as driven by the Pakistani government, and as a threat to Canadian interests.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Milewski|first=Terry|date=September 2020|title=Khalistan: A project of Pakistan|url=https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/files/pdf/20200820_Khalistan_Air_India_Milewski_PAPER_FWeb.pdf|publisher=Macdonald-Laurier Institute|access-date=4 February 2021|archive-date=19 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219020545/https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/files/pdf/20200820_Khalistan_Air_India_Milewski_PAPER_FWeb.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2023, while speaking to the [[House of Commons of Canada|Canadian parliament]], Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the slaying of [[Hardeep Singh Nijjar]], a prominent advocate of the Khalistan separatist movement who had been killed by masked gunmen in Surrey, British Columbia.<ref name="apnews2023">{{cite news |last=Pathi |first=Krutika |date=2023-09-19 |title=India expels Canadian diplomat, escalating tensions after Trudeau accuses India in Sikh's killing |url=https://apnews.com/article/canada-india-sikh-diplomat-trudeau-modi-3c5572d9027769ea6adbd047ec6f462a |work=AP News |access-date=2023-09-19 |archive-date=19 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919215637/https://apnews.com/article/canada-india-sikh-diplomat-trudeau-modi-3c5572d9027769ea6adbd047ec6f462a |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Nijjar had been accused by India of having links to terrorism, India denied any involvement in his death. A subsequent [[Canada-India diplomatic row | diplomatic row]] followed, with both countries expelling multiple diplomatic staff in 2023 and 2024.<ref name="apnews2023"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Star |date=2024-10-14 |title=Canada and India each expel six diplomats amid murder investigation of Sikh activist in B.C. |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/canada-and-india-each-expel-six-diplomats-amid-murder-investigation-of-sikh-activist-in-b/article_d17db700-8a4b-11ef-bc06-3b4aeb86095c.html |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref> Canada has not shared evidence of Indian involvement in the killing of Nijar, citing the need to protect sensitive intelligence sources and methods.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-09-18 |title=Trudeau accuses India in killing of Sikh leader on Canadian soil |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canadian-authorities-have-intelligence-that-india-was-behind-slaying/ |access-date=2024-11-05 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref name="apnews2023"/>

===United Kingdom===

In February 2008, [[BBC Radio 4]] reported that the Chief of the Punjab Police, NPS Aulakh, alleged that militant groups were receiving money from the British Sikh community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7263211.stm|title=Sikh separatists 'funded from UK'|date=4 March 2008|publisher=BBC News|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-date=26 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326235251/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7263211.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The same report included statements that although the Sikh militant groups were poorly equipped and staffed, intelligence reports and interrogations indicated that Babbar Khalsa was sending its recruits to the same [[terrorist training camp]]s in Pakistan used by [[Al Qaeda]].<ref name="2008FebFileon4">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/26_02_08_fo4_sikh.pdf|title=TRANSCRIPT OF "FILE ON 4"- 'SIKH GROUPS'|last=Bassey|first=Amardeep|date=26 February 2008|publisher=BBC News|page=20|access-date=26 December 2011|archive-date=15 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215004913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/26_02_08_fo4_sikh.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Steve Bassam, Baron Bassam of Brighton|Lord Bassam of Brighton]], then [[Home Office]] minister, stated that [[International Sikh Youth Federation]] (ISYF) members working from the UK had committed "assassinations, bombings, and kidnappings" and were a "threat to national security."<ref name="ISYFlink" />
The ISYF is listed in the UK as a "Proscribed Terrorist Group"<ref name="UKBKlisting" /> but it has not been included in the list of terrorist organisations by the United States Department of State.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm|title=Foreign Terrorist Organizations|publisher = [[U. S. Department of State]]|date=2008-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513211359/http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm |archive-date=13 May 2009 }}</ref> It was also added to the [[US Treasury Department]] terrorism list on 27 June 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/terror.txt|title=Terrorism: What You Need To Know About U.S. Sanctions|publisher=U.S. Department of Treasury|access-date=24 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020195749/http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/terror.txt|archive-date=20 October 2011}}</ref>

[[Andrew Gilligan]], reporting for the ''[[London Evening Standard]]'', stated that the [[Sikh Federation (UK)]] is the "successor" of the ISYF, and that its executive committee, objectives, and senior members ... are largely the same.<ref name="ISYFlink">{{cite news|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23479477-details/Ken%27s+adviser+is+linked+to+terror+group/article.do|title=Ken's adviser is linked to terror group|last=Gilligan|first=Andrew|date=21 April 2008|work=London Evening Standard|access-date=26 May 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612112108/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23479477-details/Ken's+adviser+is+linked+to+terror+group/article.do|archive-date=12 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="martyrboard">{{cite news|url=http://www.esadvertising.co.uk/media/images/mayor169_5330.pdf |title=Sikh civil servant who backs 'martyr' is now on TfL board |last=Gilligan |first=Andrew |date=21 April 2008 |work=Evening Standard|location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617104652/http://www.esadvertising.co.uk/media/images/mayor169_5330.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2009 }}</ref>
The ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'' reported in February 2008 that [[Dabinderjit Singh]] was campaigning to have both the Babbar Khalsa and International Sikh Youth Federation de-listed as terrorist organisations.<ref name="delistingeffort">{{cite news|url=http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=17e39f37-c322-40a7-8b13-e37c29e40881|title=Sikh leader solicits support|last=Bolan|first=Kim|date=18 February 2008|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603194134/http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=17e39f37-c322-40a7-8b13-e37c29e40881|archive-date=3 June 2009}}</ref> It also stated of Public Safety Minister [[Stockwell Day]] that "he has not been approached by anyone lobbying to delist the banned groups". Day is also quoted as saying "The decision to list organizations such as Babbar Khalsa, Babbar Khalsa International, and the International Sikh Youth Federation as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code is intended to protect Canada and Canadians from terrorism."<ref name="delistingeffort"/> There are claims of funding from [[Sikh diaspora|Sikhs outside India]] to attract young people into these pro-Khalistan militant groups.<ref name="BBC_foreignFund">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7263211.stm |title=Sikh separatists 'funded from UK' |publisher=BBC |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=24 April 2008 |archive-date=14 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214144456/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/7263211.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>