Transnational Terrorism and Targeted Killings: The Role of India in Global Repression

India’s involvement in transnational terrorism has recently gained global attention due to several high-profile assassinations. These actions violate the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. A striking example was the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan Sikh leader, on Canadian soil, which was uncovered through intelligence shared by the Five Eyes partners. This incident and subsequent revelations, including an FBI intervention to thwart another planned assassination in the U.S., signal a concerning trend of India’s willingness to engage in cross-border repression.

In recent years, there have been numerous cases of targeted killings involving Indian operatives:

– Avtar Singh Khanda, a Khalistan Liberation Force member, died in Birmingham on June 15, 2023, under suspicious circumstances, with allegations of poisoning.

– Paramjit Singh Panjwar, another Khalistani leader, was shot in Lahore on May 6, 2023, by gunmen on a motorcycle.

– Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in a Surrey gurdwara parking lot on June 18, 2023.

– Ripudaman Singh Malik was shot dead in Canada on July 14, 2022; his murder remains shrouded in mystery.

In Pakistan, recent counter-terrorism successes include the arrest of Nasarullah alias Maulvi Mansoor, a key TTP commander. His disclosures implicated India’s RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) in supporting terrorist groups like the TTP and BLA Majeed Brigade. This collaboration aims to destabilize Pakistan through proxy warfare.

Indian intelligence agencies are suspected of involvement in over 20 murders in neighboring Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities have confirmed the involvement of RAW in several high-profile killings, including:

– Shahid Latif, killed in Sialkot on October 11, 2023.

– Riyaz Ahmad, killed in AJK on January 1, 2023.

– Ziaur Rehman, killed in Karachi on September 29, 2023.

– Abu Qasim Kashmiri, killed in AJK on September 8, 2023.

– Sardar Hussain Arain, killed in Nawabshah on August 1, 2023.

– Syed Noor Shalobar, killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on March 4, 2023.

– Bashir Ahmad Peer, killed in Rawalpindi on February 20, 2023.

– Syed Khalid Raza, killed in Karachi on February 27, 2023.

– Zahoor Mistry, killed in Karachi on March 1, 2022.

– Paramjit Singh Panjwar, killed in Lahore on May 6, 2023.

India is also implicated in destabilizing Balochistan through support for the Baloch Sub-Nationalist organizations. This support, including aiding the Majeed Brigade’s attacks, is aimed at exacerbating secessionist tendencies and sabotaging projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The pattern of targeted killings and transnational terrorism reflects a broader strategy by India to exert influence and destabilize neighboring regions. The Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to counter these threats highlight the need for international cooperation and vigilance against such covert operations from Indian agencies.