Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 16:24 IST Such incidents are designed to trigger outrage without requiring large networks or high operational risk, especially when Khalistani groups inside India are under severe pressure The survival of Khalistani groups abroad has itself become a challenge, officials say, as Western countries face increasing diplomatic and security pressure. Indian intelligence agencies have assessed the January 26 Khalistani flag incident at Golden Temple as part of a repeatable, low-risk provocation playbook, warning that similar symbolic acts could be staged again at emotionally sensitive sites and dates to generate disproportionate political and diplomatic attention. According to intelligence inputs accessed by CNN-News18, such incidents—where Khalistani flags were unfurled at the holy site—are designed to trigger outrage without requiring large networks or high operational risk, especially at a time when Khalistani groups inside India are under severe pressure following sustained crackdowns by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other security agencies under the direction of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Officials say the crackdown has hollowed out the Khalistani ecosystem in Punjab, with most …