KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
23-Aug-2019
Former Pakistan Army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg said that the country will use Kartarpur corridor for Khalistan terror."Pakistan army and the government should create trouble for India through Khalistan movement," Mirza Aslam said. He also said that “the terror 'jihad' was the ‘only way to teach India a lesson’…. The Indian army at LoC cannot stop the jihadis. "Mirza Aslam Beg has earlier also expressed that he wants a hybrid war against India.
21-Aug-2019
The Pakistan High Commission (PHC) said that over 500 Indian Sikh pilgrims entered Pakistan on August 21 after being granted visas by Islamabad to head for the historic Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in order to begin celebrations in advance for the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism and first guru of the Sikhs Guru Nanak.
21-Aug-2019
Pakistan is sticking with its plan to open the first visa-free border crossing with India to facilitate Sikh pilgrims despite brewing tensions between the two neighbours over the longstanding Kashmir dispute.Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan was committed to open the corridor in November on the 550th birth of Baba Guru Nanak. The Shrine is located only a few kilometres from the border. The proposed corridor will allow Sikhs to visit the Shrine without a visa.
20-Aug-2019
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) reiterated that they will make all arrangements for the “sangat” (devotees) coming to Pakistan for 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.
20-Aug-2019
An office-bearer of the ETPB, a statutory board that manages religious properties and shrines of Hindus and Sikhs who had migrated to India after Partition, said over phone that they will ensure the corridor, which is being constructed to give Indian devotees a visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of Guru Nanak, is completed well before November 2019.
17-Aug-2019
According to media report, no work has been carried out in the Pakistan portion of Kartarpur Corridor for six consecutive days. This has triggered speculation about Islamabad’s intent regarding the completion of the project. It also has coincided with Pakistan’s downgrading of diplomatic ties with India. Sources stated that “Earlier we had assumed that due to Eid they didn’t carry out work on August 11 and 12. Then it was Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14. But it’s surprising that no construction activity was visible on their side either on August 15 and 16.” Earlier on August 8, Pakistan had stated that ‘’Notwithstanding the latest developments, Pakistan’s Kartarpur initiative shall continue. Pakistan respects all religions and would continue the project”.
04-Aug-2019
After being removed from the PSGPC and ETPB, Pakistan’s pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla has now taken to social media to propagate misinformation campaign about Kashmir. In a two-minute video uploaded on social media, Chawla alleged “Kashmir tay jo zulm ho riha hai, usdi main apni tarfo te saari duniya day Khalisatania vallo muzammat karda han (I and the Khalisanis around the world condemn the atrocities committed in Kashmir).” Chawla circulated the video in the wake of New Delhi has called off Amarnath yatra and has issued advisory to tourists and pilgrims to leave the Kashmir valley. In his provocative video message, he also named former slain Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, stating that those who had committed atrocities had met their fate like her.
30-Jul-2019
Around 500 Indian Sikhs arrived in Pakistan to take part in celebrations in connection with the 550th birth anniversary of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev. According to sources, since the arrival of the Indian Sikhs was kept in a "low profile" neither the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which looks after holy places of minorities in the country, nor the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee (PSGPC) were taken on board by the Imran Khan Government regarding their arrival. The Pakistani media was also not invited to the venue to cover the arrival of the Sikh pilgrims from India. However, the Pakistan foreign office later in the day issued a statement confirming the arrival of 500 Indian Sikhs but did not tell whether they crossed over via under construction Kartarpur corridor or Wagah border.
19-Jul-2019
The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) elected its new president Sardar Satwant Singh and secretary-general Sardar Ameer Singh, days after the Imran Khan Government dissolved the body following India's objection to the presence of Khalistani separatists as part of the Pakistani delegation discussing the Kartarpur Corridor.
12-Jul-2019
Ahead of the India-Pakistan talks over Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan removed the name of pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla from the committee. The development was confirmed through an official statement, which said, “The Federal Government (Federal Cabinet) has been pleased to re-constitute the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).” Gopal Singh Chawla is a close associate of Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed and resides in Pakistan. He is also suspected of planning terrorist attacks in India. And even said to hold meetings with global terrorist Masood Azhar.
06-Jun-2019
Gopal Singh Chawla, the General Sectary of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) raised anti-India slogans and said that he will support groups like Babbar Khalsa, Commando Force, Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Force and added that they are on the same platform.
15-May-2019
A group of Sikh pilgrims visiting Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi festival demanded a separate homeland for them. ‘Khalistan Referendum 2020’ banners in this regard have been put on Gurudwara Janam Asthan also referred to as Gurudwara Nankana Sahib.
06-Dec-2018
Pro-Khalistan elements based in Pakistan stepped-up the agenda of “Referendum 2020” influencing Indian pilgrims visiting Sikh-religious sites such as Nankana Sahib, in Nankana Sahib District of Punjab in Pakistan. The Indian pilgrims who arrived on November 23 at Nankana Sahib had spotted the banners featured provocative slogans such as “Referendum 2020 will end India’s occupation of Punjab” and “Referendum 2020 is resistance against Indian occupation of Punjab”. Khalistan flags and life-size images of Sikh terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was killed during the 1984 Military operation in the Golden Temple in Amritsar [Punjab], were placed on several buildings. Pakistan’s Security establishment keeps very close tabs on pro-Khalistan groups and there is no way that one of such groups—Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) could have gone ahead with these pro-Khalistani activities without the support from Pakistan’s Intelligence agency—Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI], said an Indian official [identity undisclosed].
28-Nov-2018
The US based pro-Khalistan group—Sikh For Justice (SFJ) has appreciated the Kartarpur Corridor as a ‘bridge’ to the mission of Khalistan and has announced to host ‘Kartarpur Sahib Convention-2019’ in Pakistan, on November 28. SFJ runs a pro-Khalistan campaign with support from Pakistan’s ISI towards creation of a separate Sikh land from India
09-Nov-2018
Acting upon intelligence inputs, the BSF and Anti-Narcotics Cell recovered three packets of heroin weigh 4.30 kg worth INR 22 crore in the international market, from Border Outpost of Shameke of India-Pakistan Border in Ferozepur Sector of Ferozepur district in Punjab. The packets were kept inside the hollow space in a tree.
07-Jan-2018
The BSF had recovered 20 kilograms of heroin worth INR 100 crores along with the Adhain India-Pakistan border outpost in Gurdaspur District of Punjab.
20-Oct-2017
For the first time, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) general secretary Gopal Singh Chawla publicly admitted to have been part of separatist 'Khalistan movement' and have also undergone training for the purpose. A video of Chawla has surfaced on social media on October 20 where he is seen as saying "I have been a part of Khalistan movement, I have also undergone training, I have been abusing India and its prime minister, if we want to get rid of India, we have to help this organization (MML- Milli Musli League)". Chalwa is seen addressing a gathering from the platform of MML, a political wing of the banned JuD, a front of anti India LeT. PSGPC general secretary Chawla in his speech addressed in Punjabi said that PSGPC receives minimum of five to seven thousand pilgrims every year from India. "We look into their eyes , out of those seven thousand pilgrims at least two thousand are RAW [Research and Analysis Wing] agents and we see a fear of Hafiz Saeed Sahib in their eyes". PSGPC's controversial general secretary also raised slogans in praise of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwala and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and said his organization (Punjabi Sikh Sangat) and supporters from UK and Canada would help MML. Calling terror mastermind as his 'Amir' (Ruler), Chalwa bestowed praise upon Hafiz Saeed saying that "Unha Indians dia nazra vich maray Aamir Hafiz Saeed Sab da khauf hunda hai" (There is fear of my Aamir Hafiz Saeed Sab in the eyes of those Indians)" he said.
04-Aug-2014
The investigations have revealed that activities of KZF, which is headed by Jammu’s Ranjit Singh Neeta, now based in Sialkot of Punjab province in Pakistan and KLF headed by Harminder Singh alias Mintu of Punjab, also in Pakistan, were being funded and coordinated by militant elements based in Spain and England.
13-Jan-2013
It was reported that a new alliance has been made between JeM and Babbar Khalsa at Rahim Yar Khan District of Punjab Province in Pakistan.
04-May-2009
According to military intelligence, a group of 935 Pakistani women are being trained by the ISI, in the Faridkot District of Punjab province in Pakistan to entice men and motivate them into becoming terrorists in India. According to a military intelligence report, the group is also being trained at a camp in Kotli, Pakistan. It said a joint meeting of senior ISI officers with representatives of al Qaeda, LeT, KZF and KCF on April 23 near Talwandi (in Pakistan) was attended by Neeta, KZF leader, and Nazira Begum, the wife of Kotli training camp principal Shah Mohammad. Taught to breach national boundaries, these women generally enter India through West Bengal and Bihar borders and are equally adept at using computers and in blackmailing youth.