Mint Explainer: Foiled attack on pro-Khalistan leader and India-US ties
Mint breaks down the developments: The Financial Times’ report said that US officials had aborted a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent pro-Khalistan leader. Pannun has been designated as a terrorist by Indian authorities. The report said that US officials issued a warning to the Indian government amid concerns about its involvement in the matter after PM Modi’s visit to America in June.
A sealed indictment has also been filed against individuals involved in the case, which may be made public. The report also states that America briefed its allies about the matter once Canada’s Justin Trudeau publicly insinuated India's involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another prominent face in the pro-Khalistan movement, in September. India’s ministry of external affairs did not deny the story.
Its somewhat vague statement confirmed that the US government had provided “inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others". The MEA said that the relevant departments were following up on the matter. Meanwhile, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson also confirmed that America had conveyed its concerns to the Indian government, including at the “senior-most levels".
Watson said Indian officials had expressed surprise and concern on the matter. “We have conveyed our expectation that anyone deemed responsible should be held accountable," she said. At this moment, it seems that both sides have decided to deal with the matter largely behind closed doors.
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