The United States has affirmed its collaboration with India in investigating allegations related to the purported plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, according to a statement by US State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel.
Following a report by The Washington Post that linked a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer named Vikram Yadav to the alleged assassination plot, India strongly refuted these claims, denouncing them as baseless and premature.
Patel, during a daily press briefing, emphasized ongoing cooperation between the US and India regarding the investigation into this matter. He expressed the expectation of accountability from the Indian government based on the findings of their inquiry committee, underscoring regular communication and updates between the two countries.
In response to questions about The Washington Post report, Patel deferred to the Department of Justice, indicating that discussions with senior Indian officials would continue at appropriate levels.
NDTV quoted Patel as saying, “We continue to expect accountability from the Government of India based on the results of the Indian inquiry committee’s work, and we are regularly working with them and enquiring for additional updates.”
“We’ll also continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian Government at senior levels, but beyond that, I’m not going to parse into this further and will defer to the Department of Justice,” Patel said when asked about The Washington Post report.
India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s stance, dismissing the report’s assertions as speculative and unwarranted. He emphasized that an Indian government inquiry committee is actively investigating the security concerns raised by the US government regarding organized criminal networks and terrorist activities.
The alleged plot to assassinate Pannun, involving Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national charged by US federal prosecutors, highlights the complex nature of transnational security issues. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, wanted in India on terrorism charges, possesses dual citizenship of the US and Canada and is designated as a terrorist under India’s anti-terrorism laws.
These developments emerge against the backdrop of previous diplomatic tensions, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s earlier remarks implicating Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has consistently refuted such allegations, emphasizing its commitment to investigating credible security threats and maintaining bilateral cooperation with international partners.
The establishment of an inquiry committee by India underscores the seriousness with which it approaches matters of national security and cross-border criminal activities. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar reaffirmed this commitment in Parliament, emphasizing the significance of addressing security concerns and potential threats to national sovereignty.
