FBI Director Christopher Wray expected to visit India next week; NIA is preparing to take up the issue of the alleged Pannun murder plot with the visiting US official
Our Bureau
Washington, DC/New Delhi
The alleged failed plot to kill an anti-India person on the US soil continues to roil India-US relations, though both countries are being cautious. As per the Court documents filed by the US Justice Department, an unnamed Indian government official colluded with Gupta in the plot to kill Pannun. Subsequently, New Delhi has formed a high-level special Enquiry Committee to thoroughly investigate the issue.
In a major move, US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer acknowledged India’s establishment of a Committee of Enquiry to investigate plotting in the US. In the statement, White House said, “Finer acknowledged India’s establishment of a Committee of Enquiry to investigate lethal plotting in the United States and the importance of holding accountable anyone found responsible.”
His statement comes after the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a US-based leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement and a citizen in New York.
The US Justice Department has claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors.
India has already constituted a high-level enquiry committee to look into all the relevant aspects regarding the concerns shared by the United States and Pannu will be taking “necessary follow-up action” based on the findings.
Now, the White House has emphasized the strategic partnership between the United States and India while urging New Delhi to ensure accountability in the alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American citizen.
National Security spokesperson John Kirby addressed reporters at a White House news conference, highlighting the importance of the bilateral relationship. “India is a strategic partner. We’re deepening that strategic partnership. They’re a member of the Quad in the Pacific. We participate with them on a range of issues and we want to see that continue unabated. That said, at the same time, we certainly recognize the seriousness of these allegations,” Kirby said.
Responding to a query on the potential impact on the India-US relationship, Kirby stressed the need for a thorough investigation. “We want it fully investigated and those responsible to be held properly accountable. It’s under active investigation. We’ve said that we’re glad that our Indian counterparts are taking it seriously and doing that. We want those responsible for these attacks to be held fully accountable, but I won’t get ahead of an investigation that isn’t complete,” he added.
Also, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray expected to visit India next week, sources have said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is preparing to take up the issue of Pannun with the visiting US official.
It is expected that Wray will meet officials of both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as NIA here in the national capital during his India visit, said sources.
The US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti confirmed at an event in Delhi on Wednesday about the visit of FBI Director Christopher Wray next week.
Meanwhile, speaking about India-US relations during a panel discussion at the Carnegie ‘Global Technology Summit’ held in New Delhi, Ambassador Eric Garcetti said, “This was the Number 1 country she (US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen) went to outside the United States. Four times this year. The Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) just came here for the third time. Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) for the second time. The FBI director is here next week.”
Amid the indictment of an Indian in an alleged foiled assassination plot in the US, State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said on Tuesday that the US takes the matter ‘very seriously’, adding that India has launched its investigation into the matter and they will wait for the results.
“They told us they would conduct an investigation. They have publicly announced an investigation and now we’ll wait to see the results of the investigation. It’s something we take very seriously,” he added.
