Why European Union’s presence at Republic Day parade has alarmed Khalistani groups & ISI

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The European Union’s presence at this year’s Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi, including a marching contingent at the parade, has unsettled Khalistani groups and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), CNN-News18 reported citing intelligence sources.

As part of the march past, four EU flag bearers on two Gypsy vehicles will take part along the parade route, coinciding with the visit of EU leaders Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen, who will attend as chief guests.

During the visit, the leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit to be held on January 27. They will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“The presence of Costa and Leyen shows a strong belief in India’s sovereignty and global stature. EU diplomats visiting India have received briefings on how certain Khalistani groups overlap with violent extremist outfits. This is not a routine protocol exchange and timing is key," sources told CNN-News18.

During their visit, the EU leaders are expected to discuss a free trade agreement (FTA), defence cooperation, cybersecurity, maritime security, and counterterrorism.

The EU is in the final stages of negotiating an FTA with India that could cover a market of about two billion people and nearly a quarter of global GDP, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, describing the development as a potentially historic moment for EU-India economic ties.

According to sources cited above, Khalistani groups view this as a blow, as Europe is focusing on strategic convergence with India instead of accommodating separatist narratives.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered multiple cases linking overseas Khalistani operatives to IED recoveries, targeted killings and grenade attacks. Its investigations have detailed how these groups operate recruitment networks within India and have documented Pakistan-linked funding and command structures. Sources said EU institutions are convinced that the presence of such groups also poses a domestic security risk for Europe.

India and EU

India and the European Union are on the cusp of a “historic trade agreement” that would create a market comprising two billion people accounting for almost a quarter of the global GDP, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday, days before her trip to New Delhi.

In an address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, von der Leyen elaborated on the current “geopolitical shocks” and how the 27-nation bloc is responding to them, asserting: “It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new independent Europe.”

“I will travel to India. There is still work to do. But we are on the cusp of a historic trade agreement. Some call it the mother of all deals. One that would create a market of 2 billion people, accounting for almost a quarter of global GDP,” she said.