US Demands Accountability in Gurpatwant Pannun Assassination Plot: A New Chapter in Indo-US Relations?

The United States expressed its desire for “meaningful accountability” regarding the alleged foiled assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a pro-Khalistani figure based in the US. During a media briefing, US principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel noted that there was “valuable engagement” with India’s inquiry committee last week, leading to information exchanges to aid both nations’ investigations.

Patel emphasized that the US would not be fully satisfied until there is concrete accountability resulting from the investigation. He acknowledged that the Indian inquiry committee is expected to continue its work and that the US anticipates further actions based on recent discussions between officials from both countries.

He stated, “We continue to expect and want to see accountability based on the results of that investigation. The United States won’t be fully satisfied until there is meaningful accountability resulting from that investigation.” Patel refrained from providing additional details, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The US Department of State indicated that the Indian inquiry committee had traveled to the US to investigate a former Indian official’s alleged involvement in the foiled plot against Pannun, who is classified as a terrorist by India.

Pannun holds both American and Canadian citizenship. In November, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against Vikash Yadav, a former officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing, for allegedly directing the assassination plot against Pannun in New York City.

An unnamed US official emphasized to Indian counterparts the need for a swift resolution and accountability in the Pannun case, stating, “We’ve communicated really clearly that the US government isn’t going to feel fully satisfied until we see that meaningful accountability takes place.”

The Indian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and this message from Washington to Indian officials had not been reported previously.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the individual named in the US indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “The US State Department informed us that the individual in the Justice Department indictment is no longer employed by India.”

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau mentioned that his country’s intelligence agency was investigating credible allegations suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist.