December 24, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 19, 1423

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NEW DELHI, Dec 23: India’s home ministry headed by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani has raised serious fears of a revival of Khalistan movement in Punjab, with the help, of course, of Pakistan, news reports said on Monday.

“In a new strategy, Pakistan’s ISI has again started toying with the idea of reviving militancy in Punjab with senior officials including President Pervez Musharraf reportedly having meetings with pro-Khalistan leaders during the birth anniversary celebration of Baba Guru Nanak,” Press Trust of India said.

It quoted a report of the union home ministry as saying that the head of US-based Nankana Sahib Foundation, G.S. Dhillon, who was in Pakistan recently, had been asked by the ISI officials to revive the Khalistan movement.

“Official sources said that Sikhs, mainly expatriates settled overseas, visiting Pakistan were being subjected to pernicious propaganda campaign to convert them into supporters of Khalistan movement,” according to PTI.

The sources, according to PTI, said Governor of Punjab Khalid Maqbool had assured the expatriate Khalistan leaders that Pakistan would provide all material and financial help to Sikhs to realise their dream of Khalistan.

“The ISI top brass also advised the Khalistan leaders to regularly interact with other insurgent groups in India operating from abroad and chalk out a common strategy,” it said.

President Pervez Musharraf had also met the overseas Khalistan leaders including G.S. Aulakh of Khalistan Council, Dhillon, M.S. Bajaj of World Muslim-Sikh Forum and A.S. Toor of International Sikh Youth Federation, according to the report.—Jay Enn