Punjab has long been divided over the Khalistan movement, which desires an independent Sikh homeland. The recent elimination of terrorist Paramjit Singh Panjwar may have, however, hampered the regional movement at the moment.
Paramjit Singh Panjwar, the most wanted terrorist and Chief of the insurgent group Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), was gunned down on May 6, 2023 in Lahore. It had been over forty years since Operation Bluestar, when members of the KCF prompted catastrophe in Punjab and killed then-army head General Arun Vaidya.
In Punjab, the Khalistan movement dates back to the 1970s, when the demand for an independent Sikh state acquired momentum. In the 1980s and early 1990s, terrorist groups, notably the KLF, carried out a series of attacks in Punjab that targeted politicians, security forces, and civilians.
Violence and insecurity caused by this movement had a significant impact on the economy and culture of Punjab, and it took Indian security forces several years to bring the situation under control. Late in the 1990s, the movement faltered, but its adherents continued to conduct periodic attacks, and the demand for Khalistan remained.
In recent years, there have been attempts to revive the Khalistan cause in Punjab, with some organisations utilising social media to spread their message and recruit new members. Some Khalistan supporters residing abroad are advocating for an independent Khalistan as the movement gains momentum.
Pakistan has been instrumental in training, directing, and arming Sikh extremists. Permanently based in Pakistan, the Chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Lakhbir Singh Rode, Chief of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), Gajinder Singh, Chief of the Dal Khalsa International (DKI), and Ranjit Singh, Chief of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) have coordinated militant activities of their organisations in India under the direction of Pak ISI. These ISI agents from Pakistan frequently accompany Sikh militants on cross-border missions, providing safe havens and caches of weaponry and explosives.
Paramjit Singh was not only a terrorist, but also a participant in Pakistan’s strategy to destabilise India through terrorism. He also operated from Nepal, which shares a porous and lengthy border with India, highlighting the challenges India faces in policing its borders. Panjwar was sought for smuggling drugs and weapons into India. Panjwar was also responsible for numerous terrorist acts and had close contacts to foreign extremist groups, advising them on pro-Khalistan and anti-India operations. He sustained the KCF by smuggling firearms across international frontiers and trafficking heroin. Paramjit Singh Panjwar was the second senior Khalistani extremist operating out of Pakistan to be eliminated within three years.
Pakistan had established a strong connection between Sikh militants and Kashmiri separatist organisations in Pakistan and other nations, placing militants under constant pressure to engage in terrorist activities in India. The establishment of the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee in April 1999, under the leadership of Pak ISI Lt Gen (Retired) Javed Nasir, was a deft move by Pak ISI to achieve its long- and medium-term goals.
In addition, Panjwar’s demise could ignite internecine conflict within the Khalistan movement as various factions compete for power and control. The weakening of the Khalistan movement in Punjab could have significant international repercussions, given that the movement has been a source of contention between India and some foreign nations, particularly those with a sizeable Khalistani population.
The killing of Panjwar is anticipated to strengthen the position of the Indian government while undermining the narrative of those who support the Khalistan cause. It may also result in a decline in support for the movement among supporters residing in other nations, who may view the campaign’s violence as reprehensible.
Overall, Panjwar’s eradication is a major development in the ongoing conflict between the Indian government and the Khalistan movement. It is unknown how the movement will react, but it is apparent that the mowing down of Panjwar will have far-reaching effects in Punjab and on the international stage.
Dr. Monica B Sood
Chairperson -NUSC
www.nusc.in