Reports have surfaced indicating that US authorities thwarted an attempt to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Addressing the security concerns raised by the US government, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India has formed a high-level inquiry committee, as confirmed by MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Wednesday. The US government had previously expressed apprehensions at the highest level and shared information regarding a “nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others.”
Responding to this claim, Arindam Bagchi stated, “During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to the nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others. The inputs are a cause of concern for both countries, and they decided to take necessary follow-up action.”
Last week, the Financial Times reported on a conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds American-Canadian citizenship and serves as the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice. He is also designated as a terrorist in India. The report highlighted that US President Joe Biden raised the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.
The emergence of this issue coincides with an ongoing diplomatic tension between India and Canada, triggered by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public accusation that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India refuted the allegation and accused Canada of providing shelter to Khalistani separatists. Visa services in Canada were temporarily suspended by India, citing security concerns for its diplomats. The resumption of these services signaled a potential easing in diplomatic relations.
In response to the situation, the MEA spokesperson provided a detailed statement, emphasizing that India takes such inputs seriously. The statement clarified that a high-level Enquiry Committee was established on November 18, 2023, to thoroughly examine all relevant aspects of the matter. The Government of India commits to taking necessary follow-up action based on the findings of this Enquiry Committee.
