An ominous revival

The suspected involvement of the ISI in rekindling the Khalistan movement in Punjab calls for a greater synergy between Central and provincial intelligence agencies

- SHANTANU MUKHARJI

Frustrated and completely demoralized by the earlier attempts to help the separatist Sikhs for the creation of Khalistan in the 80s and 90s, there are now fresh endeavours by the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other hostile players to revive the same. Although, there are not many takers for this initiative in the State of Punjab, like on the previous occasion, certain vested quarters based out of Canada, the US and the UK, favourably disposed towards the concept of Khalistan, are also extending all-out support to these handful separatist Khalistani elements.

Here, a question naturally arises as to why ISI has chosen this particular time to create a Khalistan-linked agitation. The answer seems to be that Pakistan today is saddled with numerous domestic problems including a severe economic meltdown, unsavoury politicking, and large-scale debilitating terrorist activities in addition to multiple other serious separatist problems threatening Baluchistan and other areas. ISI perhaps feels that engaging itself with an attempt to revive Khalistan might divert the attention of the public at large, both nationally and internationally, and more significantly, it would be able to reflect India in a poorer light. This is also largely because Pakistan’s attempts to revive any movement in Kashmir or to get traction in abetting acts of separatism have failed miserably. Also, separatist movements in Kashmir itself are on the wane.