India constitutes high-level committee to investigate security concerns raised by US on criminal nexus

India announced on Wednesday that it has established a high-level inquiry committee to investigate all pertinent facets of the concerns expressed by the US on mutual security cooperation.
The Indian government will be taking “necessary follow-up action” in response to the inquiry committee’s findings, according to a statement released today by Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the ministry of external affairs.

“We have already said that during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others,” Bagchi said in a statement.
“We had also indicated that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue,” the statement added.
The MEA said that the enquiry committee was constituted on November 18.
“In this context, it is informed that on 18 November 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter,” the MEA spokesperson said.
He added, “Government of India will take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the Enquiry Committee”.

The US provided information about a “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others” during recent talks on India-US security cooperation, the MEA reported on November 22.
According to Bagchi, India takes these suggestions seriously because they affect its own security interests as well. He said that both nations are concerned about the inputs and that the appropriate follow-up measures are being implemented.
A report purporting that the US foiled an attempt to kill India-designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil was earlier released by the UK-based Financial Times.