Threats from Sikhs for Justice against India have escalated, unchallenged by Washington.
New Delhi: On November 5, 2024, the day of the U.S. presidential election result, Donald Trump secured a widely expected victory, returning to the White House with a narrative of stronger action against anti-India elements operating on American soil. However, nearly four months into his second term, the threats against India from Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its U.S.-based chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, have not only continued but have escalated significantly.
The surge in SFJ’s activities is evident in the increasing volume of threats. In 2023, Pannun sent just three threatening emails. That number rose to 16 in 2024. Since Trump’s election victory on November 5, the count has soared to 30, marking an unprecedented escalation.
Pannun, designated a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has intensified his campaigns, issuing direct threats to Indian officials and institutions while operating from U.S. soil. Despite expectations that a Trump presidency would lead to swift and decisive measures against SFJ, the group appears to be acting with impunity, releasing a wave of threats, legal offensives, and referendum announcements.
The lack of a firm response from the Trump administration has fuelled speculation that Washington sees SFJ’s activities as a ‘lesser priority’ or is ‘reluctant’ to crack down on groups and individuals that do not directly threaten U.S. interests. This has added more weight to reports that Pannun, since his ‘inception’, has been working under the directions of the U.S. deep state.
While Trump’s return was anticipated to signal a departure from the approach of his predecessor- who was often seen as soft on such anti-India movements- the continued threats and activities of SFJ suggest otherwise, leading to questions about whether India’s concerns about Khalistani extremism are truly being taken seriously by the Trump administration.
In contrast, the Ministry of External Affairs of India has accommodated all demands that have come from Washington regarding Pannun, including setting up a high-level committee to probe the alleged Pannun assassination case, dismissing from service the alleged official involved in the plot, and not offering even bare minimum support to another Indian national who is in a New York prison for his alleged role in this plot.
In a series of alarming emails sent in recent months, SFJ declared External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar “WANTED”, announced Khalistan Referendum voting in Los Angeles, and issued an ultimatum to Indian MPs to shut down Parliament or face international legal action. The group also claimed to have presented evidence to U.S. lawmakers of alleged Indian assassination plots and offered financial rewards, including a $1 million whistleblower fund for Indian intelligence officials willing to expose operations against Khalistani separatists.
Another email from Pannun claimed that his organisation had served court summons to India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, during his visit to Washington, D.C. In another email, it pledged $1.25 million to Punjab farmers facing debt, framing its separatist campaign as a battle for justice.
India had anticipated that a Trump administration— perceived as tougher on extremism— would act swiftly against SFJ’s U.S.-based operations, especially since the FBI has already been presented with details about Pannun’s activities. Yet, despite diplomatic appeals and intelligence exchanges, Washington has not cracked down on SFJ’s activities.
The expectation that Trump’s return to power would curb separatist movements and extradite individuals like Pannun has, so far, remained unmet. Instead, SFJ’s rhetoric and actions have only grown bolder, raising pressing questions about how long the U.S. administration will allow such activities to continue under its jurisdiction.