Emerging Khalistan: A Potential Danger to Free Societies and Western Countries

Over the past four years, the resurgence of the Khalistan movement, which is an idea that advocates for an independent Sikh state through the partition of the Republic of India, has gained unforeseen traction in certain Sikh diaspora communities across Western countries. While the movement itself is not new, its re-emergence in free societies like Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and more recently in Australia and New Zealand poses political and social challenges that extend beyond its historical and regional roots. This raises critical questions about national security, social cohesion, and the abuse of democratic freedoms.

The Background of the Khalistan Movement

The Khalistan movement, seeking to establish a separate Sikh state originated in the Punjab region of India during the 20th century, especially the pre and post partition periods of 1947 when Greater India was partitioned by the British and their lackeys into Pakistan and India.

Although rooted in cultural and religious identity, the demand for Khalistan as a separate and independent state took a violent turn during the 1980s. The period was marked by militant uprisings, terrorism, the very foolish Operation Blue Star attack on the Golden Temple in 1984, and the subsequent political turmoil. While the Indian state quelled the violent insurgency by the 1990s, the idea of Khalistan persisted, largely among a segment of the Sikh diaspora, both in India as well as in foreign countries, specially the UK and Canada.

For decades, this movement remained a dormant ideological pursuit. However, with the advent of digital platforms and the growing influence of diaspora groups in Western democracies, Khalistan advocates have found new arenas to propagate their message, often framing it as a fight for "human rights" and "self-determination."

Khalistan proponents abuse the freedom of expression in Western countries to gain political traction. Western societies, with their strong protections for freedom of speech, assembly, and expression, have inadvertently provided fertile ground for Khalistan ideologues. These militant individuals often exploit these liberties to spread divisive narratives under the pretext of activism. The main reasons for the increased activities of these groups in the Western nations is due to Diaspora advocacy where second and third-generation Khalistan loving Sikh communities, removed from the realities of Punjab, have started to idealize the concept of Khalistan without fully understanding its historical and socio-political consequences. This advocacy is fuelled by digital propaganda where social media platforms amplify extremist narratives, often through disinformation and inflammatory rhetoric which leads to the exploitation of multiculturalism, where western countries' commitment to diversity and inclusion allows such groups to position themselves as representatives of Sikh identity, despite the fact that the majority of Sikhs worldwide reject Khalistan.

This gives rise to the potential dangers to free societies, and while western democracies pride themselves on safeguarding civil liberties, the misuse of these freedoms by radical elements are creating significant risks where the emergence of the current Khalistan movement’s activities poses potential dangers.

The Khalistan movement heavily relies on narratives that vilify Indian institutions and, by extension, certain ethnic or religious groups. This rhetoric can foster divisions within multicultural societies, as seen in violent clashes between pro-Khalistan supporters and other community members. The glorification of militancy also risks alienating moderate voices within the Sikh community, further polarizing the diaspora, and leading to the erosion of social cohesion.

The rise of Khalistan propaganda has been linked to incidents of violence and vandalism targeting Indian diplomatic missions and community centres, leading to National Security concerns. With verified reports of fundraising for extremist activities including support for militant organizations, and their connections to criminal activities like illicit drug trade and human trafficking, have highlighted the activities of these groups, to be conduits for terrorism and organized criminal activities. Intelligence agencies in India, as well as in the UK and Canada have raised concerns about individuals radicalized in western countries planning or supporting violent acts in India, and have strained international relations between countries, as can be seen in the current situation between Canada and India.

The misuse of democratic freedoms to promote a separatist agenda poses a paradox for free societies, and undermines democratic principles. While supporting human rights is a cornerstone of democracy, the allowing of unchecked hate speech, disinformation, and incitement for violence, are undermining the very values these societies uphold. The challenge lies in distinguishing between legitimate advocacy and extremist propaganda without eroding constitutional freedoms.

The unchecked activities of the Khalistan movement have had a negative effect in the Western countries. In 2023, tensions flared between the Indian and Canadian governments after allegations surfaced about foreign interference linked to pro-Khalistan activities. Vandalism at Hindu temples and calls for violence against Indian officials raised alarm about the growing radicalization in some Sikh diaspora segments in Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has chosen to not only ignore these dangers to Canadian society, but has staked his political career on supporting the Khalistan movement. This has led to his drop-in popularity among the Canadian voters and has encouraged the Khalistan movement proponents to now start claiming that they are the rightful owners of Canada, and that the white people should go back to Europe and UK. Sounds hilarious, but it is not. With these outlandish claims, the leaders of the Khalistan movement are planting the seeds of a future revolt of their supporters against the elected Government of Canada.

In the United Kingdom, protests outside the Indian High Commission in London, that included the vandalism of the Indian flag, have highlighted the disruptive potential of Khalistan supporters in the UK. The British authorities have expressed concern over the movement's extremist agenda, but have failed to take any action. Maybe the UK politicians hope that the growing violent activities of the Khalistan will not affect their society. However, in reality, it will definitely bring about deep divisions in their society that will lead to increased violence on the streets of that country.

In the United States, the vandalism of the Indian consulate in San Francisco has sparked a debate about whether sufficient measures are in place to curb extremist activity in America. Law enforcement agencies there have warned of online radicalization efforts targeting younger members of the Sikh diaspora.

The recent activities by the leaders of the Khalistan movement in Australia and New Zealand, where they held a “referendum” of their supporters for creating a Khalistan state in India should have been an eye-opener for the governments of these countries. The public calls by the Khalistan leaders to “Kill Modi”, a call to assassinate the democratically elected Prime Minister of India, have not been prosecuted by the governments of Australia and New Zealand, which is a clear indication that these, mostly leftist–liberal governments, are encouraging and maybe even supporting the idea of Khalistan, in the hope to destabilize the nation of India.

It is crucial to emphasize that the Khalistan movement represents a fringe ideology and is rejected by the mainstream Sikh community. The vast majority of Sikhs worldwide, including those in Punjab and the diaspora, are proud Indians and value their cultural and spiritual identity within the framework of a unified India. Sikhism, a faith rooted in principles of equality, service, and communal harmony, is often misrepresented by extremist narratives that use religion as a tool for political agendas. Prominent Sikh leaders and organizations across the world have consistently distanced themselves from the Khalistan movement, highlighting its divisive nature. Moreover, the state of Punjab today enjoys peace and prosperity, a testament to the resilience of its people in overcoming the dark period of militancy.

Unless it is the political geopolitical agenda of the ‘Five Eye’ countries; the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; to avoid any confrontation with the Khalistan movement and allow it to grow without any challenges in the hope that this will create obstacles for the economic growth of India, they will have to take strong steps to find a balance between protecting free speech and curbing the misuse of these freedoms by extremist elements. While free societies must uphold their commitment to civil liberties, they cannot afford to ignore the potential dangers posed by extremist ideologies that exploit these freedoms.

For their own protection, they will require to be vigilant, commit themselves to community engagement, and act strongly to protect democratic values and social harmony. Western democracies must ensure that their freedoms are not weaponized to propagate hate or disrupt peace within their own societies. The one realistic fact is that Khalistan will not be created in the country that is today the strong and vibrant nation called the Republic of India. However, if the countries of Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand ignore the dangers posed by the Khalistan movement, their own countries will soon face civil war from these very terrorists. The USA, being a country of daily violence through its very nature of a society that freely carries firearms and is willing kill to protect its society, will not face too much danger from Khalistan proponents. 

 

 

 

Tulsi Gabbard: A Compelling Choice for National Intelligence Director

 Amid a series of high-profile and somewhat controversial Cabinet selections, President-elect Donald Trump made another significant announcement last Wednesday, revealing his choice for national intelligence director: former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii. This former U.S. Congresswoman and a decorated officer in the Hawaii Army National Guard, exemplifies a rare blend of military discipline, political acumen, and unflinching dedication to service. Her appointment as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) brings a unique and refreshing perspective to the U.S. intelligence community.

Gabbard is known for her independent streak and willingness to challenge party lines as a former Democrat. Since the announcement, while critics have largely proclaimed her a national security threat, her supporters applaud her for her willingness to challenge the establishment and her strong stance on issues such as government transparency and foreign intervention.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence serves as the principal advisor to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on intelligence matters related to national security. The DNI is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the activities of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), which is composed of 18 separate agencies, including the CIA, NSA, FBI, and others. The role was created following the 9/11 attacks as part of reforms aimed at improving intelligence-sharing and preventing future threats. Essentially, the DNI is supposed to be made aware of every threat against the United States of America received by every U.S. Intelligence agency. Whether those in the CIA, the DIA and the FBI will actually do what is required by their own laws or whether a section of intelligence officials will ignore her authority because she is a woman and a Hindu; remains to be seen.

Gabbard has a spotless military career that is a testament to her commitment to protecting the American people. With two deployments in the war zones of Iraq as a medical operations specialist and subsequently as a Military Police officer, she is known and admired for her courage and battle skills by her colleagues in the military, for which she was awarded the Meritorious service Medal. She has personal insight into the complex realities of global conflict, Islamic terrorism, and the toll-of-war on non-combatants with widespread destruction and civilian deaths that far outnumber battle casualties in the war zone. This would be an invaluable perspective for any intelligence agency’s leader.

Civilian intelligence communities have to operate in tandem with the military forces. Gabbard’s deep understanding of military strategy and operations would seem to seamlessly bridge the gap between the military and civilian intelligence operations. Understanding the politics behind the strategies is also a requirement for the job and responsibilities of the DNI. Being the youngest state legislator in U.S. history at the age of 21, when she was elected to Hawaii State Legislature and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, serving Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District, her experience in the political arena is extensive.

During her tenure in the U.S. Congress, she focused on foreign affairs, homeland security, and veteran issues; the three areas that align closely with the responsibilities of the Director of National Intelligence. As a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, Gabbard has honed her understanding of geopolitical dynamics, defence policies, and the inner workings of U.S. intelligence. Her bipartisan approach to governance and her willingness to challenge the status quo earned her respect across party lines, despite occasional controversies.

Notably, Gabbard has been a vocal critic of "regime change wars," advocating for a more restrained and principled foreign policy. Her nuanced perspective on global conflict demonstrates an ability to think critically and strategically; qualities essential for the DNI, who must weigh complex intelligence to advise policymakers effectively. Gabbard’s stances on national security ensures her readiness to lead the intelligence community. She has consistently emphasized the importance of focusing American resources on combating terrorism and securing the homeland rather than engaging in costly foreign interventions. Her proposed strategies reflect a deep understanding of intelligence priorities, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and counterintelligence. As the DNI, she would likely prioritize policies that strike a balance between national security and ethical considerations.

One of Gabbard’s most defining traits is her willingness to stand firm in her beliefs, even when they diverge from the mainstream. This independence is particularly valuable in the intelligence sphere, where leaders must remain impartial and grounded, regardless of political pressures. Her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, though controversial, highlighted her willingness to engage directly with adversaries to understand complex situations first-hand. While this decision drew criticism, it underscored her commitment to seeking pragmatic solutions to global challenges. As a DNI, she will often have to navigate politically charged environments, balancing the need for transparency with the imperative of national security. Gabbard’s ability to remain steadfast under scrutiny suggests she could excel in this demanding role.

Tulsi Gabbard – the Hindu.

Gabbard, who is often mistakenly assumed to have Indian heritage due to her first name, has no ties to India. Her mother, a convert to Hinduism, chose Hindu names for her children, and Gabbard herself practices Hinduism. She made history as the first Hindu U.S. Congresswoman and took her congressional oath on the Bhagavad Gita. While she is of American-Samoan descent, she identifies strongly with her Hindu faith. It is assumed widely that her Hindu faith and personal connection to the Indian culture could hypothetically influence her political outlook towards India in several ways. Her background and previous actions suggest she may adopt a balanced, pragmatic approach rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and strategic interests.

As the first Hindu elected to the U.S. Congress, Tulsi Gabbard has often spoken about her respect for Hindu traditions and values, which could foster a deeper cultural connection to India, and might enhance people-to-people diplomacy and deepen ties in areas like education, cultural exchange, and tourism. She may also have an appreciation for India’s pluralistic traditions and efforts to maintain secularism despite challenges from various religious and political influences, including those from other American institutions. During her time in Congress, Gabbard consistently supported strengthening U.S.-India relations, recognizing India’s role as a friend of the U.S in Asia. She has emphasized the importance of partnerships based on shared values, such as democracy, counterterrorism, and respect for sovereignty.

It is possible that Gabbard might advocate for closer collaboration with India on strategic issues, including; countering terrorism, particularly in combating the rise of China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, and enhancing economic ties through trade and technology partnerships.

It must be remembered by the Indian lawmakers that despite her cultural affinity for India, Gabbard’s political approach is highly pragmatic. Her stance suggests she would prioritize U.S. interests while maintaining a fair and balanced perspective on India’s domestic and international policies. While she might support India on strategic matters, she would definitely raise concerns over issues like human rights, religious freedom, or press freedom if they contradict U.S. policies or political decisions.   

Gabbard has shown support for India’s stance on terrorism, particularly regarding threats emanating from Pakistan-based groups. She recognizes India as a key partner in global counterterrorism efforts. She might work to strengthen intelligence sharing and defence cooperation between the U.S. and India to address common threats, such as terrorism and cyber warfare.

India’s rapid technological advancements, particularly in info-tech and renewable energy, align with Gabbard’s focus on innovation and sustainability. Her leadership might prioritize collaboration in these areas, boosting trade and investment between the two nations, which might lead to encouraging U.S. investment in India’s tech sector and clean energy projects, and supporting India’s aspirations for a greater role in global governance, such as a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

While it is potentially possible that Tulsi Gabbard’s Hindu faith and connection to Indian culture might foster warmth and understanding toward India, there is no doubt that her pragmatic and independent political philosophy would likely prioritize U.S. strategic interests and at times be against the geo-political interests of India. She might champion stronger ties between the two democracies, and would probably approach sensitive issues with a balanced approach, ensuring that the partnership remains rooted in respect for both nations’ values and sovereignty. However the often irrational decisions of her President Donald Trump will eventually govern her performance as the DNI. 

 

 

 

Human Rights violations in the USA

The United States of America is no longer the ‘land of the free’. Many of the universal basic human rights are either being curtailed by legislation or have been outlawed entirely.

 Freedom of Assembly:

 Sixteen states introduced 23 bills restricting the right to protest, with five bills enacted in four states. Many of the bills would criminalize specific forms of protest, such as protests near fossil fuel pipelines, or increase penalties for existing crimes, such as “riot” or blocking roadways. In Mississippi, organizers were required to obtain written permission from state law enforcement before holding a protest near the Mississippi statehouse or other government buildings, enabling state officials to approve or disallow protests, including those against the actions of state officials. North Carolina heightened penalties for existing “riot” offenses and for protests near pipelines.

 Sexual Violence against Ethnic Native Women:

 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women face highly disproportionate rates of sexual violence. According to the most recent government data approximately 56% of AI/AN women had experienced sexual violence – more than twice the national average – and 84% had experienced some type of violence. A 2018 survey found that Alaska Native women were 2.8 times more likely to experience sexual violence than non-Indigenous women. Among the AI/AN women who had experienced sexual violence, the data shows that 96% had experienced sexual violence by at least one non-Indigenous perpetrator. US law continued to restrict the prosecutorial jurisdiction of Tribes, which prevented their ability to prosecute non-Indigenous perpetrators of violence against Indigenous women. AI/AN survivors also continued to face barriers in accessing post-rape care, including access to a forensic examination, which is necessary if a criminal case is to be brought against the perpetrator.

 Restriction of the Right to Abortion:

 Following the 2022 US Supreme Court decision that ended federal protections around the right to abortion, 15 states implemented total bans on abortion or bans with extremely limited exceptions, impacting millions of people of reproductive age. Many other states implemented six-week, 12-week, or 15-20-week bans. Laws changed quickly and faced complicated challenges, creating a culture of uncertainty for many seeking abortion care. Multiple states sought to criminalize, or have criminalized, medication abortion, traveling out of state to receive abortion care, or assisting someone in a state with an abortion ban for traveling to receive abortion care.

 In November, voters in Ohio passed a state constitutional amendment to protect access to abortion. The USA continues to impose multiple restrictions on funding for abortion, even in states where abortion was legal, which disproportionately impacts Black and women of other no9n-white races. The federal Hyde Amendment continues to block Medicaid funding (a government-funded program that provides health coverage for limited categories of people on low incomes) for abortion services, placing an unnecessary financial burden on pregnant people seeking abortion, particularly women of non-white racial groups and low-income people.

 Hate Crime and Discrimination:

 Discrimination and violence against LGBTI people and people of African ethnicity are widespread. LGBTI people are nine times more likely than non-LGBTI people to be victims of violent hate crimes. The descendants of enslaved Africans, African Americans and Indigenous Peoples continued to live with inter-generational trauma, as well as the detrimental economic and material impacts of the legacy of slavery and colonialism. Following the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October, and the subsequent Israeli bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents against people who were perceived to be Jewish, Muslim, Israeli or Arab has increased exponentially.

 Excessive Use of Force Policy by the Police:

According to media sources, police shot and killed 1,153 people in 2023. Black (skin) people were disproportionately impacted by the use of lethal force, comprising nearly 18.5% of deaths from police use of firearms, despite representing approximately 13% of the population. Black people were subject to overall police use of force at a rate 3.2 times greater than white people in 2022, according to the report. That disparity is more severe than lethal force trends; Black people were killed by police at 2.6 times the rate of white people in 2022.

Police in the US use force on at least 300,000 people each year, injuring an estimated 100,000 of them. Non-fatal incidents of police use of force, including stun guns, chemical sprays, K9 dog attacks, neck restraints, beanbags and baton strikes. Thirty-one agencies disclosed that, on average, 83% of people subjected to force across those jurisdictions were unarmed, the agencies reported.

Fewer than 40% of use-of-force incidents originated with reports of violence or involved a violent crime charge. This mirrors patterns for lethal force, with data suggesting the majority of people killed by police are not accused of violent or serious crimes.

Arbitrary detention without access to a Court Trial:

Thirty Muslim men remained arbitrarily and indefinitely detained in the US detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, in violation of international law. Four individuals were transferred to third countries in 2023. Sixteen of the remaining detainees have been cleared for transfer, some for over a decade, without progress. Congress continued to block the transfer of any Guantánamo detainee to the USA. There continued to be no accountability, redress or adequate medical treatment for the many detainees who have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment and/or enforced disappearance.

Despite the US Supreme Court ruling in 2008 that Guantánamo detainees have a right to habeas corpus, detainees continued to be denied hearings. The US government’s “global war on terror” framework, which continued to defy international law, hampered the ability of federal courts to order the release of detainees.

 Unlawful Killings by the US Government:

The USA continued to use lethal force in countries around the world and withheld information regarding the legal and policy standards and criteria applied by US forces to the use of lethal force. Every administration persisted in its denial of well-documented cases of civilian deaths and harm, and failed to provide truth, justice and reparation for civilian killings in the past. Over the past decade, NGOs, UN experts and the media have documented potentially unlawful US drone strikes that have caused significant civilian harm, in some cases violating the right to life and amounting to extrajudicial executions, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen; and parts of Africa.

The continued supply of munitions to conflict zones violates US laws and policies regarding the transfer and sale of arms, including its Conventional Arms Transfer Policy and Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance, which together are meant to prevent arms transfers that risk facilitating or otherwise contributing to civilian harm and to violations of human rights or international humanitarian law; policies that are willfully and blatantly ignored by the U.S. Government.

The UN reports on Human Rights Violations by the USA:

Earlier this month, the United Nations Human Rights Committee delivered a searing report highlighting the U.S. government’s failure to meet its human rights obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This international treaty, ratified by the U.S. in 1992, is one of only three key human rights treaties that the U.S. has ratified. The U.N. committee’s concluding observations echo many of the concerns and recommendations raised by civil society groups last month during the U.S. review, where they sounded the alarm on violations of various human rights issues including Indigenous rights, voting rights, freedom of expression and assembly, gender equality and reproductive rights, criminal legal reform, immigrants’ rights, and more.

Essentially; in the United States of America it’s human rights situation in continues to deteriorate and human rights have been increasingly polarized. While a ruling elite holds political, economic, and social dominance, the majority of ordinary people are increasingly marginalized, with their basic rights and freedoms being continuously disregarded.

This is the reality of human rights in America today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proportionate Response to terrorism, or overkill

On 11^th September 2001, 19 Muslim terrorists divided into four teams carried out a targeted attack against the United States of America that killed 2,977 people immediately and thousands suffered health disorders due to the toxic dust spread from the debris of the attack sites. In retaliation, USA invaded Afghanistan to hunt down the Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who they had identified as the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. The Afghanistan invasion by the USA and its allies led to other conflicts worldwide and the total fatalities of this 22 years War-on-Terror is estimated by the Costs of War Project to be over 4.5 million. [Let that number sink into our minds – 4.5 million dead over a period of 22 years].

Not satisfied with the invasion of Afghanistan, the USA, under then President George W. Bush began actively motivating their leadership and their allies for a military intervention in Iraq in late 2001. In the lead-up to the invasion, the United States and the United Kingdom falsely claimed that Saddam Hussein was developing weapons of mass destruction, covertly supporting al-Qaeda and that he presented a threat to his neighbours and to the world community. Throughout the years of 2001 to 2003, the Bush Administration worked to build a case for invading Iraq, and the Iraq War officially began on 20 March 2003, when the US, joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland, launched a "shock and awe" bombing campaign. Shortly following the bombing campaign, US-led forces launched a ground invasion of Iraq.

Shortly after the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Defence Intelligence Agency, and the British M.I6 publicly discredited the evidence related to the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (which never existed) as well as Iraq’s alleged links to al-Qaeda. At this point George W. Bush and his co-conspirator Tony Blair (the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) shifted to secondary rationales for the war, such as Saddam Hussein’s human rights record, and as per GW Bush, their holy crusade to promote democracy in Iraq. There is no doubt that the vast reserves of highly pure crude oil did set the stage for the Western armies’ invasion of Iraq, greatly increasing the incentives to take over Iraq by any means possible. In this political greed for controlling the oil reserves in Iraq, the USA lost 4,507 soldiers, the UK lost 179, and other countries that comprised the ‘coalition of the unwilling’ lost 139, bringing the invading forces total to 4.825 lives sacrificed.  On the other side, the Iraqi forces lost 17,690 soldiers, and over 100,000 civilians were killed.

As the world knows, the USA and its allies had to vacate Iraq by 2011; losing men, materials and any semblance of honour, having handed the country of Iraq to a local government supported by Iran. In 2014, with the rise of the Islamic State in that region, the USA sent in 5,000 troops to “assist” the Iraqi government, however the Iraqi parliament voted to have the US military presence removed in 2020.

In an almost identical fashion, the USA vacated Afghanistan in a hurry on 30 August 2021, a withdrawal that was seen across the world in the media. In the early hours of 31 August, the Taliban (whom the US had declared as terrorists in 2001 and had tried hard to defeat for 22 years) marched unopposed into Kabul and declared that Afghanistan was finally free of the invaders.

Coming to the present war of Israel against HAMAS, Hezbollah, the Yemen Houthis and Iran itself.

The war began on 07 October 2023, when Hamas–led terrorists groups launched an attack that breached the Gaza–Israel barrier, attacking Israeli civilian communities and military bases. During this attack 1,139 Israeli and foreign nationals were killed and 251 were taken hostage and kidnapped into Gaza. In retaliation Israel invaded Gaza on 27 October 2023 and to date, their bombing campaign has killed over 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Exchange of strikes between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have been occurring along the Israel–Lebanon border and in Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights since 8 October 2023. It is currently the largest escalation of the Hezbollah–Israel conflict to have occurred since the 2006 Lebanon War. Significant escalation in this conflict occurred in Sept 2024 with the Hezbollah being targeted by Israeli air-strikes and targeted assassinations of Hezbollah commanders. More than 1,000 people have been killed in the last two weeks of September in Lebanon and more continue to die as Israel keeps up its assault.

So, the moot question is: How many lives being destroyed can be defined as a “proportionate response” to terrorism? The USA’s war-on-terror impacted over six million civilians, the current Israel–Hamas war will claim many thousands more. It is very clear to any geo-political observer that Israel will not stop till it runs out of money or military munitions, or both. Unlike the USA, UK or EU countries, Israel is fighting for its very existence as a country and a negotiated peace with terrorists is not on their agenda. The Israeli Prime Minister has been very clear in his recent address to the United Nations. Only the complete surrender of Hamas (and possibly Hezbollah) will bring this conflict to an end, and there might – just might – be a fractured peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jammu And Kashmir State Elections 2024 - a realistic perspective

The upcoming legislative elections in the state of Jammu & Kashmir are crucial to the unity, security and safety of the nation of Bharat. This election will define how the voters of J&K consider the concept of democracy. On one hand the leading party of our country, the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] has worked hard to ensure that most of the inequalities in the Kashmir society were removed. Since the abrogation of Articles 35A and 370 in 2019 and then-on to 2024, incidents of rioting and stone-pelting against the police and the Army dropped over 80%, mass protests against the government dropped a massive 97%, Pakistan sponsored terrorist attacks dropped 60% with 700 plus terrorists being eliminated, and civilian casualties due to terrorism dropped 50%.

For the people of Kashmir, the effects of normal life-style is now apparent. Schools have been finishing their curriculum on time, businesses have received a boost due to normalcy and tourism has increased rapidly. Over the last 5 years, improved connectivity to Kashmir has been made possible with the 272 kms long Udhampur – Srinagar – Baramulla rail link that is semi operational at this time, the Amritsar – Katra expressway (including the 13 kms long Zojila tunnel) that is now fully operational, with work in progress to upgrade the 197 kms long Jammu – Poonch Road and the 94 kms long Srinagar – Baramulla expressway.

Increasing peace and normality has allowed an increase in the air-connectivity to Kashmir and Jammu with 122 flights per day that transport 4.4 million passengers per year since 2021, an increase of 100% since 2018-19. Five years of stability and reduction in terrorism has brought the democratic aspirations of the people of J&K to the forefront. The recent elections to the Parliament of Bharat saw a sharp increase in the number of candidates, since the youth are now keen and ready to participate in the government’s decision-making process and feel the need to participate in the political process. This reflects the two major issues of the region. The first is that the youth of Kashmir understand that a strong state of Bharat is a prerequisite for progress and prosperity. The second is that every political party has to face the stark realization that for the common voters, what matters is road connectivity, uninterrupted electric supply and fresh drinking water. The people want more hospitals, schools, colleges and universities; a better infrastructure and most of all, gainful employment.

The political party that can convince the voters, that their aspirations will be fulfilled and improve their life-style, without ignoring the issues of development and democratic governance, will be the party that will gain the support of the voters. No doubt, that the current ecosystem has failed to deliver fully on the public welfare aspirations of the people of Kashmir, but it is equally true that with the projects that are underway (or have already been completed), the state is on its way towards becoming more progressive and prosperous. The budget of the state has always been heavily enriched by the Union government and post the current polls, there is no reason for this to be discontinued. The Union government and the soon to be elected state government cannot ignore the need to keep welfare and development projects on-track. Distribution of benefits to every section of society in a fair and equitable manner empowers the people and this has been already experienced by the people after the local body elections. There is no doubt that the people of J&K are eager to participate in the coming elections and to ensure their future security, safety and prosperity.

With the progress in stability ongoing in Jammu & Kashmir; many nations that are against the growth of our country and stability across all states have started taking action to destabilize this process. Pakistan, as usual, is in the forefront of increasing the terrorist’s attacks within the State of J&K. The current infiltration by Pakistan trained terrorist is an overt and clear attempt by Pakistan to support the anti-Bharat elements in the State. Prominently, these are the Abdullah and Mufti family members who still believe that they can circumvent democratic norms and return the state to its earlier version of an autocratic fiefdom of these pro-Islamic politicians. The political apparatus of both these families have declared their manifesto for the upcoming elections, where they have highlighted their desire to reimpose article 370 on the state and essentially divide the population along religious and sectarian lines. The prepoll alliance between Abdullah’s National Conference Party and the Congress Party headed by Rahul Gandhi is considered as a clear indication that the Congress Party wants to destabilize the state for any political advantage that it can achieve through this strategy.

Mukhtar Khan, an Associated Press photo-journalist whose is from Kashmir, writes a news article dated 5 April 2024 on the website of the Conversation (UK) as to how the Muslim people of Kashmir are “apprehensive” of the election process since according to him, the Union government’s decision to remove the autonomous status of J&K by abrogating Articles 35A and 370 is controversial and against the rights of the Kashmir people to enjoy a special lifestyle at the expense of the taxpayers of the entire country. The world needs to know and understand that the Kashmir after the abrogation of its autonomous status has been a growing economy, strongly standing on its own capabilities and abilities, whereas before this change, the state was dependent on subsidies offered by the Union government. When journalists like Mukhtar Khan attempt a misleading narrative the important question to ask is; whether Associated Press which is an organization owned by liberal newspapers of New York, have an agenda to spread disinformation on behalf of Pakistan?

Al–Jazeera, the government owned mouth-piece of Qatar’s ruling family, the al-Thanis’, has the shameless audacity to raise false accusations of restriction of press freedom and curtailed civil liberties in J&K; when such civil liberties, press freedom or democracy as an institution do not exist in Qatar. The al-Thani’s are well known for their support and funding of global terrorists, especially Hamas and the Taliban, and Al-Jazeera’s attempts to help Islamic terrorists’ supporters to publicize their anti-Bharat narrative, surely makes them the leading presstitutes of the world.

Reuters reporters Rupam Jain and Kanupriya Kapoor in their article of January 12, have stated without any ambiguity that “Modi’s Hindu nationalist party is counting on the minority [non-Muslim] communities vote as it pushes to take control of India's part of the Himalayan region that is hotly contested by neighboring Pakistan and has been governed almost exclusively by Muslim chief ministers”, thereby striving to create a religious divide between communities there. These two reporters further say that “For many of Jammu and Kashmir's Muslims, the BJP's policies upending decades of autonomy and privilege represent a dangerous new phase in what they see as a nationwide push to champion the rights of the Hindu majority over minority groups”. The crucial part of this statement is that Jain and Kapoor are in favor of local Muslim autonomy and privilege, instead of a democracy being availed by every section of society; many of whom were not allowed to be part of the democratic process in the era of special privileges under articles 35A and 370. Does this Reuters article highlight the policy of the United States of America to interfere and influence the elections of our sovereign country?

Rifat Fareed, whose name appears on many anti-Bharat articles published on Al-Jazeera and Deutsch Welle {DW] of Germany, regularly spreads fake news through these two main platforms while trying to appear as if he/she/it is on-ground in Srinagar, Kashmir. However, since Rifat Fareed cannot be tracked down on the internet, it can be assumed that this name is associated with Pakistan and those forces that are against stability and peace in Kashmir. It is no surprise that DW itself is so heavily compromised in favor of Islam and radical Islamic politics that it is no longer considered to be either credible or non-partisan.

The British Broadcasting Corp [BBC] in its coverage of Kashmir, is biased towards Islamic society and its politics. BBC itself has been the center of unsavory controversies for decades. Mark Thompson, the director general of the BBC, said in 2010 that,"The organization did struggle then with impartiality". Over the years the BBC has been accused of having a bias against those on the center-right of politics, with Peter Osborne of the Daily Telegraph stating that the “BBC was an attack weapon of the narrow, arrogant left-liberal elite”.  Alasdair Pinkerton analyzed the coverage of India by the BBC from India's 1947 independence from British rule till 2008 and observed a tumultuous history involving allegations of anti-India bias in the BBC's reportage, and concluded that the "BBC's coverage of South Asian geopolitics and economics showed a pervasive and hostile anti-India bias because of the BBC's alleged imperialist and neocolonialist stance."

The Kashmir elections will not be as easy or smooth event for the Government of Bharat. Many anti-Bharat forces are putting in every effort to destabilize the democratic process and prevent the voters of Jammu & Kashmir from exercising their political will to form a government of their choice. Every effort must be made by every patriot to support our government in the preservation of democratic values and the safety of our constitution.

Jai Hind.  

 

 

 

 

Sins of the Vatican “Deciphering the Complexities of the Catholic Church”

 Introduction:

Throughout history, few institutions have wielded as much influence, power, and controversy as the Catholic Church and its spiritual epicenter, the Vatican. For centuries, the Church has been a central force in shaping the course of Western civilization, guiding the faithful, inspiring devotion, and embroiling itself in scandal and intrigue. In this comprehensive exploration, "Sins of the Vatican," we embark on a journey through the tumultuous history, enduring controversies, and evolving relevance of the Catholic Church and the Vatican in the modern world.

To understand the complexities of the Catholic Church and the Vatican, we must first delve into their origins and foundations. The roots of the Church trace back to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the formation of the early Christian community in the ancient Roman Empire. Over the centuries, Christianity spread throughout the Mediterranean world, evolving into a diverse and vibrant religious movement with its own doctrines, rituals, and institutions.

Central to the story of the Catholic Church is the office of the Pope, whose authority as the successor of Saint Peter is believed to derive directly from Jesus' commission to the apostle. From the humble beginnings of the papacy in the early centuries of Christianity to its emergence as a global spiritual authority, the papal office has played a pivotal role in shaping the beliefs, practices, and governance of the Church.

Yet, alongside its spiritual mission, the Catholic Church has grappled with controversies, scandals, and challenges throughout its history. From theological disputes and political conflicts to accusations of corruption and abuse, the Church has weathered storms that have tested its integrity and credibility. The Crusades, the Inquisition, the Reformation, and the sexual abuse scandal are but a few examples of the controversies that have left indelible black marks on the legacy of the Catholic church.

One of the most never-ending controversies surrounding the Catholic Church is its relationship with power and authority. Throughout the centuries, the Church has wielded significant influence over politics, culture, and society, often blurring the lines between spiritual and temporal realms. The Holy See, as the central governing body of the Church, has played a key role in shaping Church doctrine, administering sacraments, and mediating conflicts among the faithful.

Despite the challenges and controversies that it has faced, the Catholic Church and the Vatican remain influential and relevant institutions in the modern world. As the world's largest Christian denomination, with over a billion followers worldwide, the Church continues to provide spiritual guidance, moral leadership, and social services to millions of people. It also shields immoral priests accused of sexual exploitation of children and women, attempts to cover-up it’s financial scandals and the immorality of its continuous efforts to convert poor and impoverished people across the world into Christianity.

The Vatican serves as a global diplomatic entity, engaging with governments, international organizations, and religious communities to promote peace, justice, and human rights. Through its diplomatic missions, papal encyclicals, and humanitarian efforts, on the surface, the Vatican seeks to address pressing issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and religious persecution on the global stage.

Yet, the Church also confronts significant challenges in the modern era, including declining membership in Western countries, cultural shifts, and internal divisions over issues such as gender equality, sexuality, and the role of women in the Church. As it navigates the complexities of the 21st century, the Catholic Church faces the imperative of adapting to changing realities while remaining faithful to its core principles and teachings.

"Sins of the Vatican" is an exploration of the Catholic Church and the Vatican that seeks to illuminate the multifaceted dimensions of an institution that has shaped the course of history and continues to influence the lives of billions of people around the world. From its humble origins in the teachings of Jesus Christ to its global presence in the modern era, the Catholic Church and the Vatican stand as symbols of faith, tradition, and criminal controversies in the human story. Through this book, we endeavor to unravel the complexities, confront the challenges, and the enduring relevance of an institution that has existed over the last two thousand years. 

 NOTE: 

The above is the introductory chapter to my next book - "Sins of the Vatican", that is still being composed and hopefully will be ready for publishing by end July 2024.  

The changing landscape of terrorism and its funding.

 In the last two years (2023 / 2024) deaths from terrorism have increased by over 22% and are now at their highest levels since 2017, though they are 23% lower than their peak in 2015. While the number of deaths increased, the number of terrorists’ incidents fell, with total attacks dropping by 22% since 2017. While there were 3,350 global terrorist attacks in 2023, Pakistan recorded the highest in any country with 490 recorded attacks. The rising number of fatalities, with a reducing number of incidents indicates that terrorism is becoming more concentrated and correspondingly lethal. There were 57 countries affected by terrorism in 2015 and 44 in 2022, which fell to 41 in 2023. The single largest terrorist attack that occurred in 2023 was the 7^th October attack by Hamas on Israel, that killed 1,200 people and was the largest single terror attack since 11 September 2001 (the 9/11 attacks). The consequences of the Hamas attack are still in progress with an estimated 26,000 Palestinian killed by the retaliatory military response by Israel, as of February 2024.

While Israel suffered the largest terrorist attack of 2023, it was Burkina Faso that has been most impacted by terrorism. 258 terrorist attacks killed over 2,000 people, accounting for nearly a quarter of the global deaths due to terrorism, surpassing Afghanistan and Iraq. Iraq had less than 100 deaths from terrorism in 2023, a massive 99% reduction in the number of deaths since their peak in 2007, and incidents falling by 90%. Afghanistan has had an 84% fall in deaths and 75% reduction in incidents since 2007. The deadliest terrorists’ groups in 2023 were the Islamic State (Daesh), the Jamat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) which is part of the Algeria based al-Qaeda, Hamas, and al-Shabaab which is based in Somalia and active in East Africa.

The Islamic State has remained the globally deadliest terrorist group for the last nine consecutive years, recording the highest number of attacks and the greatest number of deaths from terrorism. The group is still active, although its impact has been falling these past nine years. Deaths attributed to this group and its affiliates fell by 17% over the last year, the lowest since 2014, while it carried out attacks in 20 countries in 2023, a number that is reduced from 30 countries in 2020. 

Terrorism has been reducing for several years prior to 2023 with a substantial fall between 2015 to 2019, with a current high percentage increase even as the total number of attacks have fallen considerably. The number of active terrorist groups have also fallen over the past 15 years with 66 still active in 2023, compared to 141 in 2009. However, terrorist attacks are now more intensified with fewer attacks committed by fewer people, while causing a higher number of fatalities, with the death of victims rising from 1.6 per attack in 2022 to 2.5 per attack in 2023. 

Today, the primary threat of terrorism comes from individuals inside the country who are inspired the global terrorist organizations ideologies and those who seek to martyr themselves by carrying out terrorist attacks without any specific directions from a known terrorist group. Particularly, domestic violent extremism, which is motivated by religious bias, grievances against government authority and/or a mix of ideologies have grown over the last five years to become one if the most serious threats against democracies.

As the nature of the threat of terrorism and the individuals involved get more varied, the financing of terrorist activities has similarly changed over the past few years. While some organizations still send money to terrorist groups across the world, many “inspired” individuals are focusing their efforts and resources on unprotected civilian targets. ISIS and al-Qaeda related financial activity is most commonly associated with people from the Western countries, USA, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and North African countries aspiring to travel and join these organizations, while transferring money via underground channels. 

Terrorist organizations are also fast adopting to changes in technology, using virtual assets to transfer funds, and using clones of legitimate charities to collect and transfer funds globally. ISIS-K in Afghanistan remains an important and powerful affiliate due to its role as a regional hub, transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars to financial facilitators as well as providing personnel and weapons to support external operations. Apart from cash reserves, ISIS generates significant income through various illicit and criminal activities. Kidnapping for ransom and extortion provides significant amounts of money to the group, especially for key ISIS branches, such as ISIS-K and ISIS-Somalia. 

ISIS-Somalia has become one of the most important branches for ISIS financially, as it generates significant revenue for the group through extortion of local businesses and financial institutions, some of which is then transferred and distributed to other ISIS branches and networks. ISIS-Somalia has served as a financial and communication hub for the global ISIS enterprise, facilitating funds transfers to other branches and networks through mobile money platforms, cash transfers, hawala, and money laundering through businesses. ISIS has also sought to aggressively fundraise online using social media, encrypted mobile applications, online gaming platforms, and virtual asset service providers (VASPs) for fund transfers.

Al-Qaeda and its affiliate groups continue to utilize many of their long-standing methods of illicit revenue generation. According to the UN, al-Shabaab is still in a very strong financial position, having several reliable sources of income, with an estimated annual revenue of around $100 million. The group engages in systemic extortion of businesses and individuals in Somalia, leveraging its territorial control to maintain a consistent stream of revenue. Tactics include setting up checkpoints to extort vehicles and transportation of goods along supply routes as well as illegally taxing residential properties and developers of new properties in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab predominantly collects this money in cash but also uses mobile money services, money remitters, and banks to transfer funds. Recent public actions against al-Shabaab financiers have highlighted al-Shabaab’s reliance on weak government institutions and regional and international networks of financial facilitators to support the group’s activities.

The terrorist group Hizbullah is funded in large part by the Iranian government, which provides several hundred million dollars a year in direct funding. Hizbullah also engages in a range of illicit and commercial activities to supplement its income. These illicit activities range from oil smuggling and shipping and charcoal smuggling to drug and weapons trafficking. For instance, Hizbullah has been implicated in several complex illicit oil smuggling schemes which were orchestrated by, and jointly benefited, both Hizbullah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force. In one scheme, numerous companies and ships smuggled Iranian oil by blending it with Indian petroleum-products and creating counterfeit certificates of origin. The oil was then loaded onto ships owned and flagged in Liberia and Djibouti, seen as more permissive jurisdictions, to avoid scrutiny. This example demonstrates Hizbullah’s ability to use a complex web of front companies to hide, both the ownership of the vessels and the true source of the oil. Hizbullah also regularly exploits the international financial system and excels in utilizing networks of seemingly legitimate front companies to raise, launder, and move money on behalf of the group. These front companies are used to obscure the true beneficial ownership. They are used extensively in various commercial activities benefiting Hizbullah, such as real estate, import/export, construction, and luxury goods. These commercial activities generate significant income for the group and draw less scrutiny than outright illicit enterprises.

Terrorism and terrorist financing threat has evolved significantly since 2017, with terrorist organizations and violent extremist movements having shifted to a more diffuse, less hierarchical, networked structure facilitated by online communication, in which individuals may self-radicalize and become inspired by an ideology from across the globe. In the financing context, this means attacks by such radicalized individuals are smaller scale and require less outside financing, creating significant challenges for financial institutions and law enforcement looking to prevent attacks. However, terrorist organizations will still look to battle-tested methods of raising, moving, and using funds. Even as new security challenges arise, and terrorists adapt to counter-terrorism efforts, and new terrorist threats emerge around the world, we have to remain committed to keep evolving to meet new challenges and countering the next decade of terrorist threats.

 

References:

1.   Global terrorism index [GTI]

2.   Terrorism tracker

3.   Institute for Economics and Peace

4.   U.S. Dept of Justice

5.   ODNI 2023 Annual Threat Assessment

6.   International Centre for Counter-Terrorism

7.   U.S. Department of Treasury, OFAC reports

8.   FATF, Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment Guidance, (Jul. 2019)