Consistently pressed Delhi for updates on Indian inquiry: US on Pannun case

The US has consistently pressed India for updates on the Indian investigation into the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and made it clear that it seeks accountability in the case, a senior Biden administration official said on Wednesday.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the US raised the issue directly at the most senior levels of the Indian government.

Campbell made the comments at a virtual media briefing on his and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to India last week.

"We have had constructive dialogue with India on this topic and I would say that they have been responsive to our concerns," he said.

"We've made clear that we seek accountability from the Government of India and we have consistently asked for updates on the Indian committee of inquiry's investigations," the senior official said.

"And I would just simply say that we raised this issue directly with the Indian government...at the most senior levels between our two sides," he said.

Campbell was responding to a question on whether the 'murder-for-hire' plot targeting Pannun was raised during meetings that he and Sullivan held with their Indian counterparts.

In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.

Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.

Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the US on June 14.

Following the allegations by the US, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to look into the inputs provided by the US on the plot.

In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Pannun on American soil.

Asked about reports suggesting that the plot was the work of some rogue elements, Campbell did not give a direct reply but said further information in the case is likely to come through law enforcement channels.

"I don't really have anything further to add to what I already said. I will say that we also believe that Indian colleagues are looking carefully at what potential institutional reforms might be necessary," he said.

"In the wake of some of these allegations and reports that you described, so look those discussions continue between the United States and India and I think anything further is likely to come through law enforcement channels," US Deputy Secretary of State said.

Following Gupta's extradition, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said it "makes clear that the Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens."

"Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in an American courtroom for his involvement in an alleged plot, directed by an employee of the Indian government, to target and assassinate a US citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India," he said.

An indictment filed by US prosecutors in a federal court in New York alleged that an Indian government employee, identified as "CC-1" directed Gupta to arrange the assassination of Pannun.

The prosecutors allege that Gupta hired a hitman to kill Pannun and paid USD 15,000 in advance.

Gupta, through his attorney, has denied the charges and said that he has been "unfairly charged".

 

[Blademaster]

Kurt Campbell needs to be told off and go back where he came from. Furthermore, he needs to be told that US needs to be accountable for the murder of India's nuclear scientist when CIA caused the plane to crash back in the 60s and be accountable for refusing to hand over Warren Anderson the CEO of Union Carbide that was directly responsible for the deaths of over 14,000 people.

 

[Hari Sud]

They are after Ajit Doval…….. in their foolish references of internal investigation they demand; they want the Ajit Doval in American jails or forget about GE engines for LCA -1 or 2.

 

[Hari Sud]

These days we see the worst of the relations between India and US. It is all because, India continues to buy Russian oil and does not support war in Ukraine. To complicate the matter further and exert greater pressure on India, the US invented the Pannu Affair. They have sent CIA chief, the FBI chief to India to exert more pressure on a minor issue. On top of that a big Democratic Party politician was made to drum up the matter politically. He is known to exert pressure to withhold MQ9 and GE engine deliveries to India. That is unlikely to happen as it was simply a setup for pressure tactics.

Overall today the situation has been made as bad as during Madam Albright and Robyn Raphael days in nineties exerting pressure on Indian government which was under economic pressure to yield on Kashmir. That pressure did not work.

Today, same type of pressure is being exerted to pressure India. Pannu Affair is a minor worthless hiccup created artificially for pressure.

Today, India is neither weak nor dependent. With $4 trillion economy and rapidly growing, India can exert reverse pressure. All India needs is for Chinese to invade Taiwan. America will come running for Indian support. Again Biden losses the elections then the new administration will look at Ukraine war differently. All the enemies which Biden has made will be invited back to become friends. Pannu Affair will be forgotten. Rather he could be extradited back to India to face criminal charges.