Introduction
The Government of India has long believed that Khalistani separatists are working in tandem
with foreign powers, mainly Pakistan and China. 1 They also believe that governments around
the world aren’t providing enough support to India to help contain Khalistani radicalism.
Pakistan has been the primary reason why global efforts to stabilize and free Asia from
international terrorism and extremism have fallen apart. The US-led war on terrorism petered
out and died. The threats remain. We can’t overlook that Pakistan sabotaged the international
community’s efforts to rebuild an Afghanistan free from terrorism. Pakistan has historically
backed Islamist terrorism and Khalistani radicals. Pakistan’s Prime Minister, the late Zulfikar
Ali Bhutto, made causing unrest in Khalistan and Kashmir to harm India his mission after
Pakistan lost East Pakistan, what is now Bangladesh, in 1971. 2
Thanks to Pakistan and China, Afghanistan is now a global security and humanitarian
challenge once again. The Taliban are paying the wages of al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan.
There is also a new and dangerous dynamic that is underlying these current trends in
radicalism: China’s soft spot for terrorism out of Pakistan. China has also been pushing for
international recognition of the Taliban. China has cynically blocked global efforts to get
Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Sajid Mir, who is a Pakistan national and is believed to have support from
Pakistan’s intelligence agencies, designated as a global terrorist at the United Nations despite
overwhelming evidence of Mir’s direct involvement in mass casualty terrorist events in
Mumbai, India in 2008. This paper will explore the Khalistan movement and its growing
relations with China. 3
Background
The Khalistan independence movement is an ethnoreligious separatist movement that
advocates for the establishment of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan (Land of the
Pure), which will be separate from India.
The modern Khalistan movement was developed in the 1970s in response to perceived
grievances of Sikhs in India, predominantly in the state of Punjab. The movement was
militarized and exploited by Pakistan and China in the 1980s, leading to the deaths of
thousands of innocent Sikh and Hindu civilians.
Khalistan sympathizers also assassinated Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, and
Beant Singh, the Chief Minister of Punjab. (Figure 1) Khalistanis were also engaged in
international terrorism. Khalistani radicals were responsible for the bombing of numerous Air
India flights in the 1980s. The bombing of Air India 182 was one of the world’s worst acts of
terrorism before the tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001. 329 people were killedin the atrocity. Bombs manufactured by Khalistani radicals also killed two baggage handlers at Tokyo International Airport in Japan. (Figure 2)
The Khalistan movement fell out of popularity because of the use of terrorism in Punjab. The
global Sikh diaspora were also shocked at the level of violence. In 1987, the Dolmer Wells
High School shooting in London was one such incident that shocked the global community.
The open support from Pakistan’s radical Islamists and former ISI directors made people
suspicious of the movement . 4
The levels of violence and calls for subversion in this second wave from the modern
Khalistani movement is increasing. If the current wave of Khalistani extremism returns to
1980s levels of violence, it will be catastrophic for India and diaspora communities.
Support for China
In the last decade, there has been a flurry of Khalistani activism, protests, and activity in
North America, Europe, and Australia. The demonstrations appear directly unrelated to host
nation interests as the concerns focus on long-standing grievances in the Sikh community and
diaspora. However, analysis of statements from the Khalistani movement’s leadership shows
a clear affinity and open support for the People's Republic of China (PRC). This is believed
to be caused by China’s recent confrontations with India in the Himalayan region.
Think tanks associated with the Chinese government have also been looking at ways to
destabilize India. They are naturally drawn to Punjab. In 2009, a Chinese analyst using the
pseudonym Zan Lue (Strategy) published an article calling for the breakup of the ‘Great
Indian Federation’ for the China International Institute for Strategic Studies (CIISS), a think
tank that works for the Chinese government. In the paper, Lue stated, “China in its own
interest and the progress of whole Asia, should join forces with different nationalities like
Assamese, Tamils, and Kashmiris and support the latter in establishing independent nation-
states of their own, out of India. In particular, the ULFA in Assam, a territory neighboring
China, can be helped by China so that Assam realizes its national independence.” 5 More
recently, Chinese analysts have been looking into separatist movements in India, "The recent
movement in European and American countries that annoys India may not be accidental,"
said Guo Xuetang, a Chinese security analyst in an article titled, The "Kalistan" movement,
the "thorn" in the heart of the Indian government. 6
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its fiery leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun are leading the charge
of this new wave of Khalistani radicalism. Pannun, an American lawyer, has publicly
supported China against India on numerous occasions.
Pannun's anti-Indian zealotry extends beyond provocative imagery, protests, and shocking
videos. SFJ has developed an affinity for the People's Republic of China. In 2020, Pannun
sent a letter to President Xi Jinping of China dated June 17th, 2020 (Figure 3) in which he
stated, "We empathize with [the] people of China as we are a people whose land and resources are under Indian occupation and who have faced genocide at the hands of [the]
Indian state since 1947."
In addition, the letter, without much detail, ambiguously thanks “the people of China for [the]
over whelming [sic] encouraging and supporting response they have given to SFJ's recent call
for non-Governmental Referendum 2020 for the secession of Punjab from India.”
Pannun has openly called for Indian soldiers to defect to China (Figure 4) “INDIA IS YOUR
ENEMY, NOT CHINA.” In 2019, Pannun also sent a letter to the Chinese ambassador of
Islamabad, Pakistan, Yao Jin. (Figure 5) In the letter, Pannun claimed that India's Research
and Analysis Wing (RAW) was responsible for an attack on the Chinese Consulate in
Karachi, Pakistan. The letter further stated that SFJ would donate one million Pakistani
rupees to the Chinese families affected by the attack.
New Developments
There has been a major new development in Chinese-Khalistani relations; Qihoo 360, a US-sanctioned company with suspected ties to Chinese intelligence, has taken an interest in SFJ's worldwide referendum drive for an independent Khalistan. Qihoo 360 has actively helped with cyber security threats against Khalistani activists. 7 It is not known if the threats are real, or part of Chinese propaganda aimed at India.
The Qihoo 360 reports were used to create propaganda against India in Pakistan’s leading daily newspapers and on social media. Qihoo 360 pushed that it had caught Indian hackers sabotaging radicals in Kashmir and those that supported Khalistan. Qihoo 360 reports have also been used by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attack the USA and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 8
In 2019 India's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) outlawed SFJ for “having the potential of disrupting peace, the unity and integrity of the country,” claiming the group has ties to militant groups, support for secessionism, and subversion in India. Furthermore, suspected members of the group have been accused of committing or conspiring to commit acts of terrorism against political party leaders, Sikh deras, government institutions, and a court complex. 9
SFJ’s public support of China looks like it is starting to pay off for the movement. This raises
serious counterterrorism and counterintelligence challenges for nations that have large
Khalistani supporting diasporas.
Points of Interest
Qihoo 360
Qihoo 360 (360 Total Security), headquartered in Beijing, China, is monitoring and analyzing
the data of Khalistan and Kashmir activists across the globe. 10 The Embassy of Pakistan in
China has recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the cyber security group, “In
April 2023, 360 Total Security and the Embassy of Pakistan officially reached a cooperation
after consultations and negotiations…. In the future, 360 Total Security will continue to
safeguard international exchanges and cooperations in cyberspace and contribute our
solutions and intelligence in China to global Internet development and governance.” 11
Qihoo 360 is connected to the CCP and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND). 12 The Ministry of National Defense uses Qihoo 360 analysis as part of its propaganda
operations against India and the USA. 13 Qihoo 360 has been monitoring alleged cyber-attacks on Sikhs for Justice, a US-based organization that is spearheading radical Khalistan
separatists. 14
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs used Qihoo 360 to accuse the USA of being a
“Hacker Empire.” 15 The US Department of Defense (DOD) has black-listed Qihoo 360 for its
alleged linkages to Chinese intelligence. 16
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)
SFJ and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun have reached out for Chinese government support against
India. 17 China has begun to emulate Pakistan by using proxy groups to destabilize India and
its neighbors. Pakistan and China consider themselves “Iron Brothers.” In the past, China has
been involved in arming radical groups, but it has only recently been found to have been
giving direct support to radicals in India and elsewhere. 18
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a close associate of Gurcharan Singh, the leader of Dal Khalsa
UK. Singh’s mentor and former Dal Khalsa UK leader, the late Manmohan Singh Khalsa was
close to Pakistani intelligence leaders and radicals from Jamaat-i-Islami, a group based in
Lahore, Pakistan. Jamaat-i-Islami are tied to al-Qaeda and other radical groups operating in
Pakistan and Afghanistan. Jamaat was subcontracted to wage jihads in Chechnya, Bosnia,
Afghanistan, and Indonesia by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Gurcharan Singh
of Dal Khalsa UK was recorded saying that Dal Khalsa has an office in Beijing. 19
Chinese think tanks linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have openly called for
heightened activities in India. 20
Intelligence agencies have intercepted communications between leading separatist leaders
and Beijing. Chinese intelligence officers have been monitored in training camps:
“Officials in New Delhi reportedly have complained to the Chinese, providing details about
the actions of Paresh Barua (above), the supreme leader of the banned separatist group, and
demanding action as he is understood to nurture militant camps inside Myanmar from his
hideout in southern China’s Yunnan province… Chinese secret service officers have visited
some of the makeshift camps of the militant outfits inside the jungles of the Myanmar-China
border, according to intelligence sources. Militants also visited China for training courses.” 21
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has recently promoted campaigns against Indian diplomatic
missions in North America and Europe. These protests were marked because of the increase
in violence by Khalistani radicals. Literature for the rallies bore a menacing statement—
“Kill India” accompanied by the names and photographs of various Indian diplomats.
(Figure 6)
Pannun has also threatened to disrupt India’s territorial integrity in a video message. In the
video presentation, Pannun displays the previous insignia of Pakistan’s Inter-Service
Intelligence (ISI), implying there is some kind of association between his organization,
Khalistanis, and the agency. (Figure 7) 22
Conclusion
It is not surprising that China and Pakistan are amalgamating their efforts to contain what
they see as Indian aggression by supporting radical separatists in India. China believes that
Arunachal Pradesh in India is Southern Tibet and has also pushed for territory in Ladakh in
the Himalayas. Tibet was an independent country that China illegally annexed in 1951. 23
China has always played a silent role in Pakistan’s operations since the 1970s. China supplied
the Pakistan ISI with Chinese weapons for the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. They have also
been caught providing help to separatist groups looking to break away from India. China is
now in the driving seat because Pakistan is caught in China’s debt trap. The increasing
security cooperation and diplomatic cover for terrorism is a concern to the rest of the global
community. The Government of India understands that Pakistan has a reckless ally that is
actively looking for ways to pull India apart. There is strong evidence that China is running
cybersecurity operations for Khalistani groups in tandem with the ISI. Qihoo 360 is asanctioned part of China’s security apparatus. It’s also been used to fight a propaganda war
against China’s foes by the Chinese government. This paper shows that Khalistani radicals
have been looking for more support from China. It also suggests they are now receiving it.
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12.https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-03-04/China-on-Qihoo-360-report-U-S-is-the-real-Matrix--OAroNUe8ms/index.html
13.https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3191449/china-slams-us-over-alleged-trojan-horse-attack-university
14.https://www.geo.tv/latest/477200-brisbane-khalistan-referendum-voting-hit-by-cyber-attack
15.https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-03-04/China-on-Qihoo-360-report-U-S-is-the-real-Matrix--OAroNUe8ms/index.html
16.https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3180636/dod-releases-list-of-peoples-republic-of-china-prc-military-companies-in-accord/
17.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/sfjs-pannun-approached-chinese-on-punjab-kashmir-ne-intel-agencies/articleshow/70193902.cms
18.https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/202210/Notificationdated_08012020%5B1%5D.pdf
https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/beijing-said-to-fund-separatist-india
19.https://www.globalorder.live/post/pakistan-and-china-back-khalistan-radicals
20.https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/chinas-long-cherished-dream-of-breaking-up-india-and-new-delhi-in-slumber-mode-613870
21.https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/beijing-said-to-fund-separatist-india
22.https://twitter.com/CJBdingo25/status/1681380270711226369?s=20
23.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/10/china-criticises-indian-ministers-visit-to-arunachal-pradesh
Appendix
