WASHINGTON: US officials have urged their Indian counterparts for swift action. They want greater accountability regarding the investigation into Indian involvement in a foiled murder plot. This plot targeted a Sikh activist in the United States. A US official, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed this information.
Last week, an Indian Enquiry Committee visited Washington to discuss India’s investigations. This visit followed allegations from the Justice Department that an Indian intelligence official had directed plans to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun, a Sikh separatist, holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada.
“We’ve communicated really clearly that the US government isn’t going to feel fully satisfied until we see that meaningful accountability takes place,” the US official stated. Furthermore, the official emphasized the hope that India would expedite its investigative process.
Lack of Response from Indian Embassy
The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, the urgency of Washington’s message to Indian officials has not been previously reported.
An unsealed indictment from last week revealed that the United States charged Vikash Yadav, a former officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), with orchestrating the plot against the Sikh separatist in New York City. The indictment claimed that starting in May 2023, Yadav worked alongside others in India and abroad to plan the assassination of Pannun.
Strained US-India Relations
These serious accusations have strained relations between Washington and New Delhi. The Biden administration views India as a crucial counterbalance to China’s growing ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. “India remains an incredibly important and valuable strategic partner,” the US official added. “We also have to have trust and an ability to work through very difficult issues like this transparently.”
India has classified Sikh separatists as “terrorists” and considers them threats to national security. These separatists seek an independent homeland, Khalistan, carved from India. An insurgency during the 1980s and 1990s claimed tens of thousands of lives in India.
Pannun has alleged that Yadav served as a “mid-tier soldier” tasked with organizing the assassination at the behest of higher-ranking Indian officials. Despite these grave allegations, India has remained largely silent since it announced a formal investigation in November 2023.
Ongoing Diplomatic Disputes with Canada
Additionally, India has been engaged in a separate diplomatic dispute with Canada over the assassination of another Sikh leader. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed that his country’s intelligence agency was investigating credible claims of Indian government involvement in the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist.
India has categorically denied any involvement in both the plot against Pannun and the Nijjar assassination. As the situation unfolds, US officials continue to stress the need for transparency and accountability in these investigations. They remain watchful of the potential repercussions on diplomatic relations with India while emphasizing the importance of addressing such serious allegations.
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