The White House held an official meeting with a group of Sikh separatists who sympathize with the Khalistan movement on Saturday, just as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to land in the US.
Modi is scheduled to attend the Quad summit in Delaware and the 'Summit of the Future' at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, NDTV reports.
The White House, for the first time, engaged with members of the American Sikh Caucus Committee and other Sikh organizations that have voiced support for Khalistan on Saturday, a separatist movement advocating for an independent Sikh state.
This meeting, attended by senior federal officials, marked a significant diplomatic shift and included assurances from the US government to protect Sikh Americans from any "transnational aggression on its soil."
Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, praised the White House's commitment to safeguarding Sikh Americans.
The Biden administration’s engagement with pro-Khalistan groups comes at a sensitive time, particularly as India has consistently expressed concern over foreign nations providing sanctuary to separatist elements.
The Khalistan movement has been linked to terrorism in India, and New Delhi has long criticized countries like Canada and the US for allegedly turning a blind eye to these activities.
The US government has not officially commented on allegations that it provides shelter to Khalistani separatists, though Canada has labeled such support as “freedom of speech.”
India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, recently emphasized that while India values freedom of speech, it "doesn't mean freedom to support separatism." Jaishankar's comments highlighted India's dissatisfaction with what it views as a double standard in how other nations manage separatist movements.
The meeting coincides with the introduction of the "Transnational Repression Reporting Act 2024" by US Congressman Adam Schiff.
This bill mandates the Attorney General to report cases of transnational repression against individuals residing in the US. Pro-Khalistan groups, including SALDEF, which has openly supported Khalistani Hardeep Singh Nijjar, praised the bill, viewing it as a safeguard against external threats to Sikh Americans.