The Khalistan Movement is a separatist movement seeking to establish a homeland for Sikhs by establishing a sovereign Sikh state called Khalistan in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. The proposed boundaries of Khalistan vary among different groups, but typically include the Sikh-majority Indian state of Punjab and potentially Punjabi-speaking areas of neighboring states of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. While its roots trace back to the 1947 Partition of British India, it gained significant momentum in the 1970s with the Anandpur Sahib Resolution, which initially sought greater regional autonomy. The movement escalated into a violent insurgency in the 1980s following Operation Blue Star and the 1984 Sikh massacre, events that deeply affected the Sikh psyche. Today, while active militancy in India has largely subsided, the movement is sustained primarily by advocacy groups within the Sikh diaspora. Organizations like Sikhs for Justice continue to lobby for a sovereign state through non-binding Khalistan Referendum.
Pro-Khalistan separatist organisations
Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) All India Sikh Students Federation Council of Khalistan Dal Khalsa Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Sikh Federation (UK) Sikhs for Justice Waris Punjab De World Sikh Organization Akal Federation Akali Dal All India Shiromani Akali Dal Anandpur Khalsa Fouj (AKF) Australian Sikh Council Azad Khalistan Bhindranwale Militant Group California Sikh Youth Alliance Jagtar Singh Hawara Committee Kesri Lehar Khalistan Affairs Center Khalistan Armed Force Khalistan Caucus Foundation Khalistan Center Khalistan Guerrilla Force Khalistan Liberation Front Khalistan Liberation Organisation Khalistan National Army Khalistan Security Force Khalsa Party Lashkar-e-Khalsa Malwa Kesri Commando Force National Sikh Youth Federation (UK) Panch Pardhani Jatha Panthic Committee Panth Punjab Punjab Sovereignty Alliance Pure Tigers Royal Army of Khalistan Sher-e-Punjab Brigade Shiromani Akali Dal, Amritsar (USA) Sikh Assembly of America Sikh Federation International Sikh Federation of Canada Sikh International Organization Sikh Youth Federation Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwale Sikh Youth of Punjab Sikh Youth (UK) Tat Khalsa World Sikh Parliament
Pro-Khalistan paramilitary organisations
Sr. No. Name Founder + year Famous Actions1. Babbar KhalsaBhai Talwinder Singh Parmar, Bhai Sukhdev Singh Babbar (1979) See: List of actions by Babbar Khalsa2.Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (1984) Major encounter at Rataul village.3.Dashmesh Regiment Bhai Seetal Singh Matewal, (1990) Major encounter at Bolowali village.4.International Sikh Youth FederationSingh Sahib Jasbir Singh Rode, (23 September 1984) based in the United Kingdom5. Khalistan Commando Force Manbir Singh Chaheru, (1986) Assassination of Rtd Chief General of Indian army and an architect of Operation Blue Star Arun Vaidya, assassinations of leading culprits of 1984 Anti-Sikh riots Congress(I) Member of Parliament Lalit Maken, Arjan Dass and several other high-profile battles with Indian security forces.6.Khalistan Liberation Army1990sThe Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA) is reputed to have been a wing of, or possibly a breakaway group from, the KLF.7.Khalistan Liberation Force Bhai Aroor Singh (1986) Killing of SSP Gobind Ram, SSP A.S Brar, SP K.R.S Gill, Lt. Col. Satnam Singh, Ramkat Jatola, SP RS Tiwara, DSP Tara Chand, Major General B.N Kumar, Treasurer Balwant Singh, Lala Bhagwan Das, MLA Sat Pal Parashar, and others8.Khalistan Tiger ForceJagtar Singh Tara (1990s)Assassination of the former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh in 1995.9. Khalistan Zindabad Force Bhai Ranjit Singh Neeta Bomb blasts on trains and buses in Jammu, killing of DSP Devinder Sharma.10.Shaheed Khalsa Force1997SKF claimed credit for marketplace bombings in New Delhi in 1997. Babbar Khalsa is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom,Home Office - Proscribed terrorist groups in the UK the EU,EU list of terrorist groups Canada,Canadian listing of terrorist groups India, and the United States.
See also Kharku Khalistan movement Insurgency in Punjab
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