The Khalistan movement is a separatist movement seeking to create a homeland for Sikhs by establishing an ethno-religious sovereign state called Khalistan. The movement gained traction in the 1970s and early 80s in India, but later died down. It has developed momentum among the Sikh diaspora in recent years. The roots of Khalistan lie in the British colonial policies of the late 1800s and early 1900s that sought to divide Sikhs and Hindus. The majority of Sikhs, about 16 million at the time of the census, live in the northern state of Punjab where they make up about 58 percent of the state’s population.

The Khalistan movement has a transnational character and has always had support from Sikhs living outside India. The Indian government has repeatedly claimed that the Khalistan movement remains active with the support of militants continuing to operate in Canada. The movement resulted in nearly 22,000 deaths of Sikhs and Hindus alike, including approximately 12,000 civilians. The Indian government considers the Khalistan movement a security threat.