ISI-Backed Khalistan Network Expands to Milan, Brings Bangladesh into Propaganda Narrative

New Delhi: Intelligence agencies have flagged a fresh expansion of the ISI-backed Khalistan network, with pro-Khalistan propaganda now surfacing in Milan, Italy. A poster calling for a lockdown and protest by Khalistan supporters has been circulated in the Italian city, marking a new geographical shift in the movement’s activities.

While the presence of Khalistani elements has earlier been noted in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, the appearance of such material in Italy indicates a deliberate attempt to widen the group’s international footprint. Intelligence Bureau officials say intercepted communications clearly point to efforts by Khalistani operatives to enter new countries and amplify their messaging through a transnational narrative.

Although the core agenda continues to focus on the demand for a separate Khalistan carved out of Punjab, the latest poster also references developments in Bangladesh, signalling an expansion of the propaganda framework. The proposed protest or lockdown in Milan is being promoted by Jagroop Singh and Gurpal Singh, both associated with the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which functions as the propaganda arm of the Khalistan movement. SFJ has been behind the so-called referendums organised in Canada, the UK, and Australia.

SFJ is led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who has repeatedly issued threats against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and circulated videos depicting the desecration of the Indian national flag. The organisers of the Milan protest have attempted to link the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar with the murder of anti-India student leader Osman Hadi. Khalistani elements had earlier accused Indian agencies of being responsible for Nijjar’s killing in Canada.

Following Hadi’s death, a similar narrative was pushed alleging Indian involvement. Intelligence officials say that the effort to connect the two incidents reflects a script crafted by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The objective, they believe, is to influence international opinion by portraying India as engaging in interference abroad and carrying out extrajudicial killings.

An Intelligence Bureau official stated that both the Nijjar and Hadi killings were ISI-orchestrated operations, carried out with the knowledge that both individuals were hostile to India. According to officials, the subsequent propaganda campaign blaming India is a calculated attempt by the ISI to deflect responsibility and damage India’s global image.

Although the Milan event is yet to take place, Indian agencies have gone on high alert to prevent it. Officials say the move into Italy highlights the evolving strategy of the Khalistan network, especially as pressure mounts on its activities in Canada and the UK. After making inroads into Australia, the group is now attempting to establish a presence in Italy, with intelligence inputs suggesting similar efforts may follow in other countries.

Indian intelligence agencies have also detected a sharp increase in Khalistani propaganda on social media platforms. Notably, this is the first instance where the Bangladesh issue has been incorporated into Khalistan messaging. Officials say this has been done at the behest of the ISI, which aims to malign India across multiple regions.

With elections approaching in Bangladesh, agencies anticipate further such attempts, with the ISI expected to increasingly use Khalistani elements to shape narratives. The broader objective, officials believe, is to create the impression among Bangladeshi audiences that their domestic challenges are attributable to India.

With inputs from IANS