In brief
Canada and the United States have raised serious accusations against India regarding alleged assassination plots targeting Sikh separatist leaders within their borders. The motives behind India's actions remain contested as the Khalistan separatist movement has waned significantly within India over the decades. Yet, India continues to view this movement as a national security threat, linking it to organized crime efforts such as gang warfare, drug trafficking, and extortion. Experts speculate that the Indian government is attempting to frame these issues as terrorism, thus justifying actions taken against Khalistan activists abroad. According to Ajai Sahni of the Institute for Conflict Management, while genuine advocates exist for the cause of Khalistan, there are also criminals who exploit this cause to gain legitimacy for their illegal activities. This reality complicates the landscape as India struggles to distinguish between genuine political activism and criminality, further straining relations with Canada and the Sikh community abroad.
