US officials are urging India to expedite its investigation and ensure accountability regarding an alleged plot involving Indian intelligence in the attempted assassination of a Sikh separatist in the US, reported Reuters citing an unnamed US official.
Last week, an Indian Enquiry Committee visited Washington to discuss the ongoing investigations after the US Justice Department accused an Indian intelligence officer of orchestrating plans to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh separatist.
“We’ve communicated really clearly that the US government isn’t going to feel fully satisfied until we see that meaningful accountability takes place,” said a US official adding “We have been emphasizing that we hope that India will move as quickly as possible through their investigative process.”
As per Reuters report, Indian embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the allegations. The US’s call for accountability in the case has not been previously reported.
The accusations stem from an indictment unsealed last week, which charges Vikash Yadav, a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), with directing the assassination plot. The indictment claims Yadav, acting on behalf of the Indian government, worked with individuals both in India and abroad to carry out the plan starting in May 2023.
The case has added strain to the otherwise strong US-India relationship, which the Biden administration views as crucial to countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite the growing tension, the US remains committed to its strategic partnership with India.
“India remains an incredibly important and valuable strategic partner,” the US official said. “We also have to have trust and an ability to work through very difficult issues like this transparently,” added the official.
India has historically viewed Sikh separatists, who seek an independent homeland called Khalistan, as threats to national security. The 1980s and 1990s saw an insurgency in India that led to the deaths of tens of thousands.
Pannun has alleged that Yadav, described as a “mid-tier soldier,” was tasked with organizing the assassination by higher-level officials within the Indian government.
Since announcing a formal investigation into the allegations in November 2023, India has been relatively silent on the matter. The case comes amid a separate diplomatic row with Canada over the killing of another Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in June 2023. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused India of involvement in Nijjar’s assassination, claims which India has strongly denied.
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