Daily Times

India’s international standing has been increasingly marked by accusations of state-sponsored terrorism, extrajudicial killings, and a relentless campaign to export Hindutva ideology. While the government of Narendra Modi seeks to project India as a global power, the country’s actions have drawn growing criticism, particularly regarding the treatment of minorities and dissent both at home and abroad.

This has culminated in a series of diplomatic and geopolitical crises that threaten to unravel decades of diplomatic efforts and alliances. One of the most contentious issues on India’s international agenda is the Khalistan movement, a political and separatist struggle predominantly pursued by Sikh diaspora communities.

India has long branded the movement as ‘terrorism’, a term she uses to delegitimize the call for an independent Khalistan. However, international law recognizes the right to self-determination for all, including Sikhs, and the Khalistan movement is rooted in grievances stemming from the historical oppression of the Sikh community in India.

India’s relentless propaganda campaign to label the Khalistan movement as terrorism serves multiple purposes. It allows the Indian government to suppress internal dissent within her borders, justifying crackdowns on Sikh activists and using the label as a pretext for increased surveillance and violence.

India’s covert operations and human rights abuses have left the country diplomatically isolated.

Internationally, it obscures the true nature of the struggle by casting the Khalistani supporters in a negative light while deflecting attention from India’s governance failures and systematic repression of minorities. This diplomatic sleight of hand aims to mask India’s authoritarian policies and avoid scrutiny of her own human rights violations.

India’s diplomatic descent took a dramatic turn when a US court summoned National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and a former RAW chief allegedly over an assassination plot targeting Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. This plot surfaced after the extradition of Nikhil Gupta and points directly to the involvement of Home Minister Amit Shah which has been seen as a state-sponsored act of terrorism.

This revelation is significant for several reasons. It confirms the long-standing allegations that India has been involved in global covert operations aimed at silencing dissident voices, particularly those advocating for the rights of minorities.

The nexus between Doval & Amit Shah, and the Indian intelligence apparatus underscores a chilling disregard for international norms and the rule of law, as well as India’s readiness to engage in extrajudicial killings to suppress her perceived enemies. These actions represent a dangerous trend of undermining international peace and security.

Another key moment in India’s international isolation occurred with the extrajudicial killing of a Canadian national and a prominent Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The assassination was allegedly carried out by Indian agents.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally accused India of being behind the attack which led to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. The global outcry was swift. Canada, a key member of the Western alliance, demanded that India be held accountable for her actions.

The situation was exacerbated when Canada’s cybersecurity agency listed India as a source of a significant rise in cyberattacks with the number of attacks attributed to Indian state-sponsored entities increasing by 400 percent over recent years. India’s direct involvement in extrajudicial killings, cyberattacks, and the violation of sovereign territories has placed her squarely at the centre of a global security crisis, eroding the country’s diplomatic credibility.

The actions of the Indian government over the past decade suggest a deliberate strategy to export her authoritarian Hindutva ideology abroad. Under the leadership of Modi, the BJP has increasingly targeted minority communities, particularly Muslims and Sikhs while promoting a vision of Hindu nationalism.

However, this agenda extends beyond India’s borders with the government seeking to suppress the voices of dissent within diaspora communities and intervene in foreign territories. India’s state machinery has been used to carry out violent operations not only against her citizens but also against perceived enemies abroad.

These operations reflect a deeper and more dangerous objective: to destabilize democratic institutions and enforce Hindutva orthodoxy globally. The involvement of Indian diplomats and intelligence agencies in these schemes highlights the extent to which India is willing to undermine international norms to achieve her hegemonic designs.

India’s covert operations and human rights abuses have left the country diplomatically isolated. The fallout from her involvement in extrajudicial killings and assassination attempts has strained relationships with Western powers including the US, Canada, and EU.

These alliances, which were once crucial to India’s geopolitical aspirations, are now under increasing pressure. India’s aggressive foreign policy marked by assassination plots, cyber warfare, and the export of Hindutva ideology has created a diplomatic crisis. The global community must hold India accountable for her actions, demanding transparency, justice, and a return to diplomatic norms.

India’s unchecked ambitions fueled by a toxic blend of nationalism and authoritarianism, threaten not only regional stability but also the values of democracy and human rights around the globe. It is time for the world to recognize the dangerous trajectory India is on and take a stand against this state-sponsored terrorism.

The writer is a graduate of QAU, PhD scholar and a freelance writer and can be reached at fa7263125@gmail.com