New Delhi : A recently surfaced video provides clear evidence of the support Pakistan’s government and its notorious intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), offer to anti-India and pro-Khalistan Sikh extremists.
The 1.04-minute video shows Gopal Singh Chawla, a notorious Pakistan-based Sikh extremist who is believed to act as a link between pro-Khalistan leaders and Pakistan’s ISI. In the footage, Chawla can be seen aggressively insulting and directing expletives at police officers from the Punjab province, including the District Police Officer (DPO). Despite his abusive behavior and public claims of having support from the military, the police officers remain calm, smiling, and attempting to defuse the situation—an indication of the troubling connections between Pakistan’s state institutions and anti-India elements.
The video also reveals that Chawla’s guests were stopped at a police checkpoint, prompting him to assert, “They are our state guests,” and “He has immense connections at the top level,” while referencing a "Brigadier Sahib" who allegedly called to intervene. Chawla further threatens, “They will note your belt number and suspend you,” adding, “Your DPO won’t even be able to help you.” He also claims, “They’ve been stopped here for an hour” and demands, “Ask him to talk to me, even if it’s the DPO.” Throughout the encounter, Chawla continued to hurl offensive insults at the officers.
Intelligence sources have stated that this video solidifies their belief that Chawla is a key ally of the ISI, receiving substantial backing from the Pakistani military. “His crude language, including explicit insults and vulgar threats aimed at undermining the police officers' authority, demonstrates utter disrespect for law enforcement, and it is clear that he enjoys support from both the ISI and the Pakistani army,” sources reported.
Further reports indicate that Chawla, who serves as the Chairman of Punjab Sikh Sangat, has close ties with Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB). He recently appointed ETPB’s Tariq Wazir Khan, the Secretary of Shrines, to the board of directors of the Punjabi Sikh Sangat.