Eric Garcetti, the US ambassador to India, has acknowledged the collaborative effort between India and the United States in investigating the alleged thwarted assassination plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He stressed the importance of not crossing a “red line” between the two nations.
Garcetti highlighted the protection of free speech in the American system but also emphasized that threats and actions against individuals or institutions should not breach legal boundaries. Pannun, designated as a terrorist by India, holds American and Canadian citizenship and has made repeated threats against India.
The interview follows the Biden administration’s announcement of cooperation with India to hold accountable those involved in the plot against Pannun. Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, was charged in connection with the plot, accused of collaborating with an Indian government employee to hire an assassin.
Garcetti reiterated the importance of upholding legal standards and ensuring that any accusations meet the threshold for successful prosecution under US law. He condemned any involvement of government employees in assassination plots against foreign citizens as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty and rights.
Regarding the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, Garcetti expressed confidence in the ongoing investigation and hoped for a positive resolution.