The meet at Nankana Sahib: Tracing the ISI-Khalistan bond

The fact that the ISI has taken it upon itself to revive Sikh militancy was evident in the meeting between Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief, Hafiz Saeed and a group of Pakistani Sikhs in Nankana Sahib.

While it was said that the meeting was held to urge the Sikhs to vote for the Milli Muslim League, a political outfit floated by Saeed, Intelligence Bureau officials point out that this place has been a hotbed of activity since 2005.

During the meeting, Saeed, whose outfit has sheltered and trained Khalistani terrorists said, " "Sikhs are a brave nation but atrocities are being committed against it in India". Saeed further said the Pakistani government also does not raise a voice because it wants India's friendship. "Pakistan is ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of seeking friendship with India," he said.

The ISI with the help of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba had decided to revive Sikh militancy in 2001. First it sheltered all those who had fled India. Then camps were set up where they were sheltered and trained.

The Lashkar-e-Tayiba and the Babbar Khalsa International had set up a common office outside Nankana Sahib, a small town in sub divisional head quarter of Shekhupura in west Punjab in Pakistan.

During the various meetings, the ISI would try to link the Sikhs and Muslims. They would say that both had a common enemy and that was India. Both Sikhs and Kashmiris must fight to liberate from India, the ISI had also said.

In 2001, a group of Sikhs had visited Pakistan. It was at that time that the ISI created the Sikh Muslim Itehad Federation to carry forward the anti-India plan. Through this forum several recruitments were made and training imparted.

The ISI also went on to form the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee. This panel was headed by Lieutenant General Javed of the ISI. The primary role of this committee was to invite Sikh youth from Punjab and then rope them in for their operations.

Another outfit called the World Muslim Sikh Federation had been formed. This had become a common group for the BKI, Dal Khalsa, ISI and Lashkar-e-Tayiba. This outfit aimed at purely propagating ideology and had the nature of a political forum,

The ISI then went on to set up the International Sikh Muslim Friendship Organisation had its offices in Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. According to dossiers, these organisations conducted several meetings with youths, trying to convey to them that their lives would be better only if Kashmir an Punjab were separated from India.

For years now the ISI has been aiming at creating a common ground between Sikhs and Muslims. In this regard the Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee too had been formed. It was under this committee that discussions would take place.