Washington DC, October 16:
According to Michael Rubin, a policy analyst for the Middle East Forum and a senior scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, the Khalistani movement poses an existentialist danger to Canada and the United States. It is impossible to disregard the actions of Khalistani forces, as Rubin pointed out in his editorial "Khalistani Extremism: A Growing Threat in the US and Canada" published in the National Security Journal of the United States.
"While Khalistani terrorism and gang violence has made headlines in Canada, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India--apparently falsely--of assassinating a Sikh extremist and wanted terrorist on Canadian soil, Khalistan extremism has become an increasing problem in America as Khalistan activists use false asylum claims and chain immigration to build large communities in California and New York," he said in his article.
"Most Americans are aware that terrorists from Khalistani have twice attacked India's consulate in San Francisco; but, few recall with indignation the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran by Iranian students or the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi by militants from Libya. The national media correctly labels Islamist attacks on American synagogues as hate crimes, but they do nothing when radical Khalistanis desecrate Hindu temples from Melville, New York to Sacramento, California," he continued.
In addition, according to Ruben, Khalistani extremists are promoting a violent mentality and have taken over local institutions.
The State Department and the White House may not be able to stop some college campuses from being ridiculous, but that doesn't mean they have to. While it's true that not all causes are just, supporting some only leads to further bloodshed. He expressed concern that as Khalistani activists spread across North America, they are influencing the next generation to embrace violence through their influence over local institutions.
The United States was foolish to dismiss the idea of Al Qaeda three decades ago, according to experts in the field of counterterrorism. The Khalistan movement is experiencing the same thing now. Then, groups controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, such as the ISNA and the Council on American Islamic Relations, defined criticism of Islamic radicalism as "Islamophobic." Those who would denounce Sikh militancy are now being accused of religious intolerance by Khalistani militant outfits, he continued.
It would be foolish for the US to fall into such pitfalls. Though religiously motivated fanaticism of any stripe can be dangerous, the Pakistani-backed Khalistani extremism is particularly worrisome. His argument went on to say that although many Americans may be unfamiliar with Khalistan, the danger of American complacency toward its militants was growing.
In an earlier interview with ANI, the ex-defense officer claimed that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau erred greatly in linking India to the murder of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and that Trudeau has failed to provide evidence to support his claims.
"In my opinion, Prime Minister Trudeau has erred significantly. Claims that he hasn't been able to prove have been leveled against him. He was either not thinking clearly or he lacks proof to back up the claims he made against the administration. This nation was providing sanctuary to a terrorist; if that is not the case, he must explain it," the ex-Defense Department official added.
Even though Prime Minister Trudeau brought it up, not everyone understood what he meant. No more than Osama bin Laden was a construction engineer; neither was Nijjar, so let's not kid ourselves. Repeated assaults had left him with blood on his hands, Reuben said.
An important turning point in the relationship between the two countries came in June of last year, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the claim—in a parliamentary address—that he had "credible allegations" that India had a role in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was murdered in Surrey.
Indian officials had earlier on Monday "strongly" rejected a Canadian diplomatic message that had suggested Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats were "persons of interest" in an investigation, calling the claims "preposterous imputations" and a political ploy by the Trudeau administration.
On Monday, just hours after summoning Canada's Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, expressing its strong disapproval of the "baseless targeting" of the Indian High Commissioner and other Canadian diplomats and officials. In response to allegations that six Indian ambassadors were involved in a "campaign of violence" on behalf of the Indian government, Canada has decided to deport them.
“To harass, threaten and intimidate Indian diplomats and community leaders in Canada,” India said in a scathing statement, adding that Prime Minister Trudeau’s animosity for India has been evident for a long time and that his government has willingly given violent extremists and terrorists place to operate.
