The first Modi-Trump bilateral since the latter took office in January 2025 had many takeaways. While the focus was largely around trade and tariffs, much emphasis was given to security also.
A joint statement read, ‘the leaders also committed to strengthen law enforcement cooperation to take decisive action against illegal immigration networks, organized crime syndicates, including narco-terrorists human and arms traffickers, as well as other elements who threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations.’
While the joint statement focuses on organised crime networks, human trafficking and narco-terrorists it also broadly hints at action against elements that threaten public and diplomatic safety. This is an indirect mention of the Khalistan movement, and it is significant since the biggest propaganda man for this movement lives in the United States. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has been instrumental in spreading propaganda and fakery about India. He is a US national and has repeatedly threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other Indian diplomats.
What next for the Khalistan movement
The additional mention about the elements that threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity is a clear emphasis on the Khalistani elements. The Khalistan elements have been vocal about their violent intentions.
For this they have used countries such as US and Canada to further their agenda. When compared to Canada, they have been slightly more watchful while carrying out their activities in the US. In Canada, their reign of terror was in fact institutionalised as Justin Trudeau had relied on elements sympathetic to the cause only to save his chair.
Pannun on the other hand is a US national. He and his SFJ have been proscribed by the Indian government. He is a wanted criminal in India and there are multiple probes against him which are being carried out by the NIA.
Top officials handling security told Organiser that they see a positive in the joint statement. While some aspects are specific, others are broader. My reading of it clearly suggests that there is a hint that the Khalistanis will not be spared. Although not stated explicitly, the Khalistan issue is definitely on the table, he adds.
India’s next move
Pannun is a major irritant. His SFJ is a polarising factor for the radical Sikh elements and having him extradited is of grave importance. They say in security circles that the propaganda is often more dangerous than the action. Pannun falls in this category and his propaganda and lies have had a great impact on the movement.
Sources say that the Indian agencies will take a leaf out of the extradition of Tahawwur Rana. The process took long, but it eventually did happen. At the joint briefing, President Trump announced that his administration had approved the extradition of Rana to India.
The same formula will be applied to Pannun and the other Khalistan elements living in the United States. To have someone extradited one has to have solid proof. The case is strong at the moment, but there is more to be built up another officer said. We will have a fool proof case against Pannun, following which we will request the government to make a formal request to the US to have this man extradited.
Following the bilateral, security officials are moving at a fast pace to expedite the investigations against Pannun. The chargesheets will be filed and trial would commence soon. A conviction in a court of law is needed if a strong case has to be made out for extradition. The India-US Extradition treaty has all the ticks when India seeks the extradition of Pannun and his associates. However, there are some formalities that have to be completed in India before the request is made.
Pannun on the other is expected to lie low for some time now. He is aware that there would be zero tolerance in the US if he indulges in protests before the Indian embassy and calls for referendums to form a separate Khalistan nation.
He had recently made a feeble attempt to suggest that he is still an important figure in the US even if Trump is in power. He recorded a video of himself chanting ‘Khalistan Zindabad,’ at the Trump inaugural and tried to suggest that he had been invited. It was found that he had in fact purchased a ticket to attend the January 20 event.
Trump has been brutal when it comes to criminals and their gangs. He has designed the Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations and his deportation programmes suggest he is not going to let gangsters rule the roost.
Taking all this into account, Pannun is likely to lie low and indulge in some soul searching as the days ahead are looking hard for him.
