India must calibrate its diplomacy on Khalistan issue to better effect

 India must calibrate its diplomacy on Khalistan issue to better effect

planned rallies by pro-Khalistan separatists in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia on July 8  

Ahead of planned rallies by pro-Khalistan separatists in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia on July 8 

that target Indian diplomatic missions and diplomats, the Indian government has taken steps to speak to officials in these countries for added security and vigilance. 

१ The issue was raised by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval 

in talks with his British counterpart in Delhi on Friday, and was the subject of calls between the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and its counterparts in all partner countries, requesting pre-emptory / immediate and complete obedience  action. 

२ Posters in these countries have  protested  as

“Kill India” and “Khalistan Freedom” rallies, exhorting supporters to march to Indian missions.

 

 ३ posters sport the photographs of India’s top diplomats  

What is worrying is that the posters sport the photographs of India’s top diplomats posted in these countries. 

४ The protests — after the 

• attacks on Indian missions, 
• arson आगजनी  attempts 
• and vandalism बर्बरता  — indicate a sharp uptick in separatist activity overseas and have left New Delhi concerned. 

 ५ adequate protection to Indian diplomat 

The rallies planned for Saturday put the respective governments on notice — to ensure adequate protection to Indian diplomatic interests, as obligated under international conventions. 

 investigate

• groups threatening violence, 
• gathering and 
• sharing intelligence on any organisations supporting them to plan or carry out attacks or a terror strike like the 1985 bombing of an Air India flight.

 Above all, these governments must not use “freedom of speech” tropes  / phrase  as a cover for failing to prevent criminal acts.

जबकि जिम्मेदारी उन चार देशों पर बनी हुई है जहां खालिस्तान समर्थक हमले बढ़े हैं

While the onus remains on the four countries where pro-Khalistan attacks have increased, New Delhi must also reconsider its public diplomacy on the issue. 

measures 

such as downgrading security for the British High Commission might be demonstrative, but hardly diplomatically effective.

 

In addition, with left the U.S, the MEA has regularly summoned top diplomats of the countries named, to démarche them over attacks (there is often no distinction made between violent attacks and graffiti सार्वजनिक स्‍थान में दीवार पर बना चित्र या की गई लिखावट ). 

 New Delhi’s vocal protests on behalf of the Indian diaspora and community centres targeted by pro-Khalistan groups, for example, fail to recognise that, most often, the victims and perpetrators are of Indian origin. 

Given the rising protests and the alarming nature of the threats, the need of the hour is more cooperation, and not brinkmanship, between the governments, and a mechanism to share information, intelligence and discuss solutions to growing violence by such groups.