The Biden administration has reportedly issued a warning to the Indian government regarding its potential involvement in a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on American soil. The alleged plot targeted New York-based lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and was thwarted following intervention by US authorities. This comes on the heels of Canada accusing New Delhi of being involved in the killing of a Canadian national associated with the Sikh separatist movement in Surrey, British Columbia.
According to a report from the Financial Times, the US shared inputs with India regarding the connection between organized criminals, gun runners, and terrorists during recent discussions on India-US security cooperation. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi expressed concern and stated that India takes such inputs seriously, as they impinge on their national security interests.
The Indian government has since restored e-visas for Canadian citizens following the prolonged diplomatic spat over the accusations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in parliament. The report from the Financial Times stated that it was unclear whether the alleged plot against Mr. Pannun’s life was abandoned after Washington’s intervention or if it was actively thwarted by FBI agents.
Spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that Washington had raised the issue with the Indian government, including at the senior-most levels, and conveyed the expectation that anyone deemed responsible should be held accountable. Mr. Pannun, the targeted leader, is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, an activist group linked to the movement for a separate Sikh state known as Khalistan. He has previously come under scrutiny for social media posts targeting the Indian government, and on Tuesday, a new case was registered against him over a video that appeared to threaten flights operated by Air India.
The warning sent by Washington to the Indian government reportedly came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington in June, and federal prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment in a New York district court against at least one suspect involved in the plot. One person charged in the indictment is believed to have already left the US, the Financial Times reported.
As the investigation unfolds, it is clear that tensions between the United States and India over the issue of Sikh separatists have escalated, with both governments taking the matter seriously and raising grave concerns about national security.
