Pakistan's ISI accused of sponsoring Khalistan movement in North America

A report has highlighted that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) appears to be an external sponsor of the Khalistan campaign operating within North America. According to the report, the ISI has helped establish and sustain drug-cartel networks involving Punjabi-Canadian operators to supplement insufficient traditional diaspora donations.

Writing in ‘Khalsa Vox’, Harleen Kaur describes the movement as a sustained political and organizational enterprise rather than a spontaneous expression of diaspora grievance. The report suggests that Canadian law enforcement and intelligence agencies should prioritize the scrutiny of Khalistan campaign financing, as these funding sources have become a matter of national security.

Groups such as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) maintain significant infrastructure for public events, propaganda, and legal advocacy across Canadian and American cities. Additionally, the Canadian Department of Finance's 2025 assessment noted that Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation, both listed terrorist entities, have been observed receiving financial support originating from Canada.