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Sources say Azerbaijan’s growing significance stems from a combination of strategic geography, relaxed visa procedures and evolving regional geopolitical alignments.
Intelligence sources point to the growing visibility of Khalistan-linked narratives at events hosted by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), a government-linked Azerbaijani think tank.
As security scrutiny on pro-Khalistan groups intensifies across traditional Western centres such as Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, Indian intelligence agencies are increasingly monitoring signs of a geographical shift in the movement’s overseas activities. According to senior intelligence sources, Azerbaijan has emerged as a new focal point for certain Khalistani-linked networks seeking operational space beyond the watchful eyes of Western law enforcement agencies.
Sources say Azerbaijan’s growing significance stems from a combination of strategic geography, relaxed visa procedures and evolving regional geopolitical alignments. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the country offers easy connectivity to Western Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, making it attractive for transnational actors looking to maintain international networks while keeping a relatively low profile.
The development comes amid increasingly close ties between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey, often described by strategic observers as a trilateral geopolitical axis. Security officials believe this alignment has gained additional relevance as India has deepened its diplomatic and defence engagement with Armenia, Azerbaijan’s long-standing regional rival, while simultaneously strengthening strategic ties with Israel.
Intelligence sources point to the growing visibility of Khalistan-linked narratives at events hosted by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), a government-linked Azerbaijani think tank that initially focused on anti-colonial and anti-France campaigns. On January 16, 2026, the organisation hosted a conference titled “Racism and Violence Against Sikhs and Other National Minorities in India.”
According to officials familiar with the event, the gathering featured several prominent diaspora-based Khalistan supporters, included a minute’s silence for slain separatist figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar and circulated literature promoting the Khalistan movement. Among those who reportedly attended were Moninder Singh of Sikh Federation International (Canada) and UK-based activist Dabinderjit Singh Sidhu, alongside other diaspora representatives from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. Pakistan’s Punjab Minister for Minorities and Human Rights, Ramesh Singh Arora, was also present.
Indian agencies allege that funding for such activities continues to flow through established Sikh diaspora networks in Canada, Britain and parts of Europe. While informal channels such as hawala remain in use, investigators say there is growing reliance on cryptocurrencies and other digital financial tools that are significantly harder to trace.
Sources further claim that operations linked to Azerbaijan are currently centred less on direct mobilisation and more on information warfare and logistical coordination. This includes managing localised social media ecosystems, facilitating travel for operatives and establishing small commercial entities that can function as logistical fronts.
For Indian security agencies, the concern is not that Azerbaijan has replaced Western hubs overnight, but that it is increasingly serving as a supplementary staging ground where networks can regroup, coordinate and conduct propaganda activities away from the intense scrutiny they now face in North America and parts of Europe. As geopolitical rivalries deepen across Eurasia, officials say such emerging spaces will remain under close watch.
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