Pannun Attends Trump Inauguration, Sparks Diplomatic Tensions

Sikhs for Justice leader and Khalistan separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was spotted at US President Donald Trump’s inauguration event, raising a Khalistan Zindabad (Long Live Khalistan) slogan, though no official invitation was extended to him. According to reports on social media, Pannun purchased tickets via personal contacts to attend the inaugural festivities, specifically The Liberty Ball, apparently in an attempt to project closeness with the incoming US administration. Despite efforts to appear influential at the event, through the event, Pannun was physically quite far from Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, indicating no proximity to Indian diplomatic circles either. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal stated that India would continue to raise matters impacting national security with the US, emphasising the need to address anti-India agendas. Pannun, a designated terrorist in India since 29 Nov 2022, faces non-bailable warrants in India. His properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh have been seized by the National Investigation Agency. In a separate development, during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 22 Jan, Jaishankar pressed for accountability regarding the July 2023 arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco. Jaishankar described the attack, allegedly linked to pro-Khalistan elements, as a ‘very serious matter’ and urged the US to hold those responsible accountable. The attack followed the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2024 which Canada alleges was conducted by Indian intelligence agencies (WD Vol 1, Issue 1, Story 1). A video circulated after Nijjar’s killing showed the consulate attack with the message ‘violence begets violence.’ However, despite the US Federal Bureau of Investigation prioritising the investigation, no significant progress has been made in identifying or prosecuting the perpetrators. India has consistently called on the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia to curb Khalistani activities.