US and India Cooperation on Alleged Murder Plot against Khalistani Terrorist
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by New Delhi for advocating separatism and holding referendums overseas to carve out Khalistan, an independent Sikh state, has been at the center of a recent controversy involving an alleged murder plot.
US Involvement and Response
The Joe Biden administration in the United States stated that they are actively working with India to hold accountable those responsible for the alleged murder plot against Pannun. During a Congressional hearing, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu emphasized the seriousness of the issue and the collaboration between the two countries to address it.
Details of the Alleged Murder Plot
An Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, has been charged with the murder-for-hire of Pannun, as per the US Justice Department indictment. The Department alleged that a government employee from India had recruited Gupta to hire a hitman to assassinate Pannun, a plan that was thwarted by authorities in Washington.
Indian Investigation Findings
A recent Indian investigation revealed that rogue officials, not authorized by New Delhi, were involved in the murder plot. According to anonymous senior officials cited by Bloomberg, at least one individual directly linked to the alleged plot was employed by the Indian government but is no longer associated with India’s foreign spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
New Delhi has shared the findings of the government-appointed investigation panel with American authorities, indicating a cooperative effort to address the situation.