Indian Proxies

What is a Proxy?

In the context of international relations, a proxy is a non-state entity whose actions are leveraged by a sponsoring government to achieve its strategic objectives. These entities operate as intermediaries, allowing states to pursue geopolitical, ideological, or economic goals while maintaining a degree of deniability.

Types of Proxy Entities

Non-state actors commonly utilized as proxies include:

  • Educational Institutions: University departments or research centers that may promote state-aligned narratives.
  • Cultural Institutions: Non-profits or cultural organizations that advance a state’s soft power objectives.
  • Political Institutions: Political action committees (PACs) or advocacy groups that influence policy or public opinion.
  • Influential Individuals: Social media influencers, religious leaders, or prominent politicians who shape public discourse.
  • Cybercriminal Organizations: Groups engaged in cyberattacks or disinformation campaigns on behalf of a state.

More aggressive proxy actors, which pose physical threats to adversaries, include:

  • Private Military Companies (PMCs): Mercenary groups providing military support.
  • Terrorist Organizations: Entities engaging in ideologically driven violence.
  • Insurgent Organizations: Groups seeking to destabilize opposing governments.
  • Organized Crime: Criminal networks used to conduct illicit activities aligned with state interests.

Why States Use Proxies

According to the RAND Corporation’s report, Proxy Warfare in Strategic Competition (2023), states engage in proxy warfare due to a complex interplay of geopolitical, ideological, domestic political, and economic motivations. Geopolitical objectives, such as countering rival states, are often the primary driver, with ideological alignment playing a secondary role. Domestic political and economic considerations, while relevant, are typically less significant.

The primary reasons for employing proxies include:

The term refers to individuals and entities that do not officially represent a government, but which nevertheless possess significant political, social, and/or economic influence”. 

  1. Deniability: By outsourcing activities to non-state actors, governments reduce their accountability and the risk of direct retaliation.
  2. Credibility: Non-state actors may be perceived as independent, making their messaging or actions more persuasive than overt state propaganda.

India’s Use of Organized Crime

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) 2024 report highlights India’s alleged use of organized crime groups as proxies on Canadian soil, particularly targeting Sikh communities. The report notes:

“Indian officials, including their Canada-based proxy agents, engage in a range of activities that seek to influence Canadian communities and politicians. When these activities are deceptive, clandestine, or threatening, they are deemed to be foreign interference. These activities attempt to steer Canada’s positions into alignment with India’s interests, particularly with respect to how the Indian government perceives Canada-based supporters of an independent homeland they call Khalistan.”

The CSIS further states:

“In mid-October, as part of ongoing RCMP investigations, the RCMP announced that evidence pointed to a link between agents of the Government of India and criminal networks to sow violent activity in South Asian communities in Canada.”

A prominent example is the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, which reportedly exploits Canada’s student visa system to infiltrate Indian operatives. The gang targets Sikh business owners, entertainers, and affluent individuals, extorting sums ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. These demands are often accompanied by threats of violence, including shootings at properties, destruction of assets, or, in extreme cases, murder. In September of 2025, the Government of Canada officially listed the organization as a terrorist entity, allowing the Canadian government to serize property and freeze money owned by the group on Canadian soil.

Notable recent cases linked to the gang include:

  • The assassination of Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh Gurdwara president and Khalistan advocate, where three of the four accused are reportedly tied to the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. In a March 2023 interview, the founder of the Bishnoi gang Lawrence Bishnoi told an interviewer, “I am a nationalist. I am against Khalistan. I am against Pakistan.”
  • The murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, a prominent Punjabi artist, also attributed to the gang.

India’s Use of Cultural Institutions

Cultural and advocacy organizations have also been implicated as proxies. In June 2025, the Fremont Gurdwara Sahib in Fremont, California, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, urging an investigation into the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) for allegedly acting as a foreign agent of India without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). HAF, along with organizations like the Coalition of Hindus of North America and the Hindu American Political Action Committee, has opposed legislation in California, such as SB 403 (anti-caste discrimination) and SB 509 (transnational repression). These groups have collaborated with the Indian embassy on events, corresponded on sensitive issues, and provided law enforcement training, including recommendations to monitor U.S.-based groups and individuals linked to Khalistan advocacy for potential violence or fundraising.

HAF has denied these allegations, asserting that their training materials focus on protecting Hindu communities and places of worship from vandalism, which they attribute to Khalistani extremists. However, no Sikhs have been arrested in connection with these incidents, and in some cases, Sikh communities have assisted in cleanup efforts, aligning with Sikh principles of religious freedom and community welfare.

References

  1. The Role of Non-State Actors as Proxies in Irregular Warfare and Malign State Influence
  2. “Aggressive” NSAs
  3. What is the Bishnoi gang and how could it be linked to Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing?
  4. Gangster tells BBC why India’s biggest hip-hop star was murdered  
  5. DoJ urged to investigate US group accused of working as Modi-backed ‘foreign agent’  
  6. Who is lobbying for India’s Modi government on Capitol Hill?  
  7. Further Reflections from the Sikh Coalition on SacBee Reporting

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