The Indian government on Monday officially welcomed the United Kingdom’s recent decision to impose sanctions on a British Sikh businessman and an associated entity for their alleged links to organizations involved in terrorism in India.
The sanctions are considered a landmark action, marking the first use of Britain’s Domestic Counter-Terrorism Regime to disrupt funding channels for the pro-Khalistan militant group, Babbar Khalsa.
The Sanctions and UK’s Action
Last week, the UK government’s Treasury department announced:
- Asset Freeze and Director Disqualification against Gurpreet Singh Rehal, a British Sikh businessman linked with the London-based sports investment firm, Panjab Warriors.
- Asset Freeze against the entity Babbar Akali Lehar, for promoting and supporting the activities of the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa.
The UK Treasury assessed that Rehal was involved in the terrorist activities of both Babbar Khalsa and Babbar Akali Lehar, specifically through:
- Promoting and encouraging the organizations.
- Carrying out recruitment activities.
- Providing financial services and support, including through the alleged purchasing of weapons and other military material.
The sanctions mean that all funds and economic resources in the UK owned or controlled by Rehal or Babbar Akali Lehar are subject to an immediate asset freeze. Furthermore, Rehal is prohibited from acting as a director or being involved in the management or promotion of a company due to the director disqualification sanctions.
India’s Official Reaction
Speaking at a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed strong approval of the action:
“We welcome the steps taken by the UK government to sanction anti-India extremist entities, which strengthen the global fight against terrorism and extremism and help to curb illicit financial flows and transnational crime networks,” he said.
Jaiswal emphasized the transnational threat posed by such groups:
“Such individuals and entities pose a threat not just to India and the UK, but to people across the world. We look forward to continuing to work very closely with the UK side in further strengthening our counter-terrorism and security cooperation.”
Context of Bilateral Relations
This action addresses a significant point of contention in India-UK bilateral relations. In the past, India has frequently accused UK authorities of not taking adequate steps to control the activities of pro-Khalistan elements and organizations operating in Britain. These activities included violent protests outside Indian diplomatic missions, the targeting of Indian diplomats, and the organization of the non-binding ‘Khalistan referendum,’ which had served as a major source of friction between the two nations.