Khalistan supporters
Sikh activists from radical Sikh organisations shout slogans in support of KhalistanNARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images

While prime minister in waiting Imran Khan recently spoke about how he would like to fix relations between India and Pakistan, a lot seems to be going on behind the scenes. The Indian intelligence sleuths have said that "Referendum 2020," which is a movement started by radical Sikhs in Europe and Canada, could have the backing of Pakistan Army's Lieutenant Colonel Shahid Mehmood Malhi.

The "Referendum 2020" is a radical Sikh movement, encouraged by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to "liberate" Punjab from India and form a separate state called Khalistan.

Who is Shahid Mehmood Malhi?

  1. Malhi is a Lieutenant colonel in Pakistan Army and often referred to as Chaudhary Sahib.
  2. He is suspected to be the brain behind the movement and Indian agencies have found several documents in his computer that speak of the movement and detail the plans in regard to "Referendum 2020," reported the Times of India.
  3. He was known to be heading ISI's Lahore detachment, which often makes news for its Punjab-centric activities.
  4. The detachment is also suspected to have a hand in the targeted killings of Hindu leaders in Punjab.
  5. The intel also believes that Malhi's detachment could have had a role in the Pathankot airbase attack in January 2016.
  6. Malhi is said to be from the Wapda town in Lahore.
  7. He is 45 years old and was commissioned into the 25th Battalion of the Baloch Regiment on October 13, 1995
  8. He then rose up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on August 10, 2012.
  9. Malhi has also been a part of the UN mission in Kosovo between May 2004 and May 2005.
  10. He is known to have a brother who is also in Pakistan Army and a part of the Sindh Regiment.

The TOI has accessed a few documents of the movement, which the ISI had codenamed "Operation Express." Among these documents is said to be an internal memo, which mentions that the "Referendum 2020" should be launched on June 6, 2020, in tune with the  36th anniversary of Operation Bluestar. 

In addition, the ISI and its campaigners are said to be reaching out to the supporters of Khalistan over social media and have also been trying to recruit potential supporters worldwide. The ISI has also created a few WhatsApp groups, where is urges Khalistan supporters in about 20 countries to vote in favour of a separate state in 2020.