Over several decades, India has been recognized for being a democracy, fighting terrorism and focusing on contributing to harmony in Asia and worldwide. However, some new allegations and intelligence findings, along with several international diplomatic incidents, suggest that India is now seen as a destabilizing nation that allegedly uses extremists, carries out terrorism by the state and oppresses people both in its own country and overseas.

Sarah Adams, a former CIA member, pointed out in an interview that India is using Taliban ties to commit acts of genocide

Sarah Adams, a former CIA member, pointed out in an interview that India is using Taliban ties to commit acts of genocide. This claim may be concerning, but it is in keeping with how New Delhi is usually credited with covert aggressive acts.

Although India strongly opposes terrorism in public, behind the scenes it seems to behave differently. For a long time, Pakistani authorities have reported India’s role in providing funding and weapons for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). They have attacked civilians and security officers in a wide range attack on Pakistani land. Supporting these groups looks like an Indian attempt to disrupt Pakistan in order to hide its problems at home. It is using proxies to carry out terrorism targets both to target Pakistan’s independence and the security of the entire South Asian region.

Indeed, Pakistan repeatedly supplies evidence and intelligence that India supports terrorism in the region. One example is the evidence linking India to numbers of insurgent groups in Balochistan such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), responsible for several major attacks inside Pakistan. Nonetheless, the majority of the world still overlooks these claims due to India’s influence and its well-known role in Asia as a counterpart to China. Even so, the fact that the accusations are always the same and the trustworthy files from Pakistan make it harder to disregard the matter.

According to then Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Indian agents were responsible for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a citizen of Canada who was a Sikh activist

Officials in Canada took a step that strengthened Pakistan’s position in the conflict. According to then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Indian agents were responsible for the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a citizen of Canada who was a Sikh activist. Trudeau said the assassination violated Canada’s independence and this position was widely criticized around the world as a new phase in reports on India’s hidden activities globally. According to the report, this episode confirms Pakistan’s previous claims that India’s intelligence agents work outside the country to deal with opponents and support their political moves.

Members of the Sikh, Kashmiri and Muslim communities overseas who criticize the Modi government have allegedly suffered surveillance, harassment and worse

For a long time, India’s main intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has executed secret activities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and in other regions. But the revelations about Indians planning murders in Western countries such as the UK and US show a growing problem: countries taking repressive actions against citizens abroad. Members of the Sikh, Kashmiri and Muslim communities overseas who criticize the Modi government have allegedly suffered surveillance, harassment and worse. As a result, democratic values are challenged and members of society exercising their free speech in liberal democracies are put at risk.

Nations around the world are facing a critical dilemma in terms of morals and strategy. For how much longer will the Indian government be allowed to use strategy or regional balance as a justification for its hidden aggression? Steadily, its conduct is unacceptable to the world community because it violates the independence of countries, transgresses on people’s rights and causes unrest in support of national goals. By linking diplomacy, espionage and counterterrorism to proxy warfare, India is using its foreign policy to quiet opponents and exclude minorities.

By doing this, it puts peace in the area at risk and shakes people’s trust in international laws. If a country known for democracy starts to look like an authoritarian regime by restricting free speech, promoting violence and controlling extremists, its effects can spread wide. When this kind of action is accepted as ordinary, powerful people use their status as a reason to remove crimes.

The United Nations, human rights bodies and democratic nations should make India answer for any suspicious claims and require its sharp end security forces to give a clear account

Countries within the international system should approach the assessment of India’s role in regional conflicts by using solid data and sound strategies. Although India has security-related concerns, they do not permit or excuse actions that break international laws and endanger people in other nations. The United Nations, human rights bodies and democratic nations should make India answer for any suspicious claims and require its sharp end security forces to give a clear account.

Peace has not come to South Asia, not only due to terrorism, but also due to the imbalance in how counterterrorism is handled by various parties. India should not try to appear harmless when it is being harmful. If peace is to take hold, all authorities in different countries must face the same levels of accountability and justice. This is the first step to ending the region’s history of repeated violence and disharmony.

By siding with terrorist factions in Pakistan and interfering across borders, India is endangering the peace and stability of the greater region

People are starting to question India’s peaceful and democratic nature due to its actions both at home and abroad. By siding with terrorist factions in Pakistan and interfering across borders, India is endangering the peace and stability of the greater region. Now that some ex-intelligence experts and foreign leaders have come forward, the international community should rethink its perceptions and urge India to be more open. India might end up disrupting peace instead of promoting it until then.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.