WEBDESK: India has suffered a major diplomatic blow after US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice. The letter has triggered a new international discussion just weeks ahead of the Khalistan Referendum in Washington DC, scheduled for 17 August.
Trump’s letter comes at a time when India is under growing scrutiny over its treatment of minorities and its global campaign to discredit the Khalistan movement. Despite India designating Pannun as a “terrorist,” international institutions including the United Nations have not fully accepted India’s narrative.
In the letter, Trump wrote, “I put my citizens, my country, and our values first. When America is secure, the world is safer. I will never stop fighting for the rights and safety of my people.”
He also spoke about his commitment to US foreign policy, military preparedness, global aid, defence spending, trade, tariffs, and American values.
Trump’s strong words are being seen by analysts as a clear signal that the Khalistan issue is no longer just an internal matter for India. It is now a global human rights and freedom of speech concern, especially in the United States.
Observers say the letter is of “extraordinary importance” for the Khalistan cause. Many believe it symbolises a level of international legitimacy that Indian authorities have long tried to prevent.
Khalistani organizations are hailing the letter as the evidence that their cause is already being heard by influential sources in the west.
In the meantime, the Indian government is left feeling more diplomatically isolated since it was already being criticised previously over its human rights record and supposed censorship of dissent.
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