The indictment of RAW officer Vikash Yadav for allegedly conspiring to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh activist based in the United States, has cast a harsh spotlight on India’s covert operations abroad. This incident not only reveals the growing audacity of India’s intelligence apparatus but also highlights the dangerous export of its Hindutva-driven agenda. With diplomatic norms increasingly disregarded, India’s actions are now a pressing global security concern, undermining democratic principles and international stability.
At the heart of India’s current policies lies the Hindutva ideology, which envisions Hindu supremacy while marginalizing minority communities. Initially confined to domestic politics, Hindutva has gradually evolved into a guiding principle of India’s foreign strategy, particularly under the BJP government. Minority groups, notably Sikhs and Muslims, have become primary targets of this ideology.
The targeting of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun illustrates how Hindutva’s influence has extended beyond India’s borders. As an advocate for the Khalistan movement, which seeks a separate Sikh homeland, Pannun has been a vocal critic of India’s oppressive policies against Sikhs. While his advocacy aligns with international principles of self-determination, India has branded him a terrorist to delegitimize his cause. The plot to assassinate him reveals not only the extent of India’s authoritarian reach but also its willingness to breach international norms to suppress dissent.
The indictment of Yadav is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of state-sponsored actions designed to silence critics. RAW, India’s external intelligence agency, has increasingly been linked to such covert operations. Reports suggest that this particular plot was orchestrated with the full knowledge of high-ranking officials in the Modi government. Following Modi’s visit to the United States in June 2023, RAW chief Samant Goel retired, fueling speculation about the agency’s involvement at the highest levels. This shift toward extrajudicial actions is deeply troubling. RAW’s operations, including spying, cyberattacks, and now assassination attempts, indicate a strategy that prioritizes ideological objectives over diplomatic principles. Such actions undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for other nations.
India’s aggression is not confined to physical operations; it extends to the digital realm. Cyber warfare has become a critical component of its strategy to intimidate dissenters and disrupt global stability. Canada’s recent designation of India as a cyber threat, citing a staggering 400% increase in cyberattacks originating from Indian networks, underscores this issue. These attacks have targeted not only Sikh activists but also institutions critical of India’s policies.
The “Indian Chronicles” disinformation campaign is another example of India’s digital aggression. By disseminating false narratives and manipulating international perceptions, India seeks to discredit movements like Khalistan while masking its domestic failures. Such tactics threaten the integrity of global information ecosystems and undermine trust in democratic processes.
India’s covert operations have ignited diplomatic crises with key partners, including Canada and the United States. The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh activist, has led to an unprecedented diplomatic standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa. Canada’s allegations of Indian involvement in the killing have strained bilateral relations, with both nations expelling diplomats and freezing cooperation on key issues.
In the United States, RAW’s alleged role in targeting activists like Pannun has further complicated India’s diplomatic standing. While the U.S. has maintained a strategic partnership with India, incidents like these raise concerns about the reliability of New Delhi as a global partner. Western democracies are now grappling with the implications of India’s actions on their own security and geopolitical interests.
India’s covert operations have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among its diaspora communities, particularly Sikhs. These actions threaten the safety of activists and undermine the freedoms that diaspora members enjoy in democratic nations. The targeting of Sikh activists like Pannun sends a chilling message to others advocating for minority rights or self-determination: dissent will be met with severe consequences, even outside India’s borders. Such actions not only alienate diaspora communities but also risk damaging India’s soft power. Once celebrated for its cultural diversity and democratic values, India is increasingly viewed as an exporter of authoritarianism and a violator of human rights.
India’s covert operations, driven by Hindutva ideology and executed through RAW, represent a grave threat to global stability and democratic values. By targeting activists like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and engaging in cyber warfare, India undermines the principles of sovereignty and human rights. The international community must act decisively to confront this challenge, ensuring that state-sponsored terrorism finds no place in the modern world. Only through collective action can global stability be preserved and the principles of democracy upheld.
*The writer is pursuing her MPhil at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon (AUB).
December 8, 2024
The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies of Aequitas Review.
