‘India expressed concern, said such activity not their policy’: US on ‘foiled plot’ to kill Khalistani terrorist

The United States on Thursday said India has expressed “surprise and concern” after learning about the “foiled plot” to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Stating that the US is treating the issue with “utmost seriousness”, White House NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the Indian government has been told that “anyone deemed responsible should be held accountable.”

“We are treating this issue with utmost seriousness, and it has been raised by the US Government with the Indian Government, including at the senior-most levels. Indian counterparts expressed surprise and concern, Watson said. “They (India) stated that activity of this nature was not their policy,” he added.

Also Read: US thwarts assassination plot targeting Khalistani separatist on American soil

“We understand the Indian government is further investigating this issue and will have more to say about it in the coming days. We have conveyed our expectation that anyone deemed responsible should be held accountable,” Reuters quoted Watson as saying.

This statement comes after the UK-based daily Financial Times reported that the US “thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate” Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil and “issued a warning to India’s government over concerns it was involved in the plot.”

Responding to the statement, India said it is examining US inputs on the “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others” amid reports that the US thwarted a plan to allegedly assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

“India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well. Issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments,” foreign ministry spokesman Aridam Bagchi said in response to media queries.

Also Read: Khalistan Movement: A litmus test for India-Canada relations?

Pannun is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

The Financial Times report came two months after Canada said there were “credible” allegations linking Indian agents to the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. India has rejected the allegations and sought evidence.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the anti-terror National Investigation agency filed a case against Pannun, accusing him of issuing social media messages that said people flying with Air India were in danger. He had also claimed that Air India would not be allowed to operate on November 19.