According to a senior Biden administration official, U.S. officials have warned India after foiling a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the United States due to concerns about the involvement of the New Delhi government in this action. The White House announced on Wednesday, November 23, that the United States is taking this plot very seriously and has raised the issue with 'the highest officials' of the Indian government. The news of this plot was first reported by the Financial Times. Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, stated that when Indian officials were informed of this incident, they expressed 'surprise and concern.' Watson said, 'We are taking this matter very seriously. The U.S. government has raised this issue with the Indian government, including with its highest senior officials.' The spokesperson added, 'They indicated that such activities have no place in their policy... We know that the Indian government is looking further into this matter and will have more to say about it in the coming days. We have conveyed the message that we expect the responsible individual to be arrested and held accountable.' According to this senior U.S. official, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh of Indian descent with dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, was the target of the foiled plot. The news of this incident comes two months after Canada announced that there were 'credible' claims that the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader named Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 in the suburbs of Vancouver was linked to Indian agents, although India has denied this claim. Additionally, see: U.S. diplomat: 'Five Eyes' intelligence revealed possible Indian connection to Sikh separatist murder. Source: Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State and Defense reached further defense agreements in India; report by Geeta Arin. Senior U.S. officials' visit to India ahead of regional talks. The U.S. expressed concern over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India. Tensions over the murder of Sikh leaders in Vancouver; India issued an ultimatum to '41 Canadian diplomats.' U.S. diplomat: 'Five Eyes' intelligence revealed possible Indian connection to Sikh separatist murder. India suspended visa issuance for Canadian citizens; Trudeau: Canada is not seeking to provoke New Delhi. The U.S. and India reached further defense agreements amid 'global challenges.'
Assassination Plot Against Sikh Separatist in the United States Foiled; U.S. Warns India
The U.S. has warned India after foiling a plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist in the U.S., expressing serious concerns about India's potential involvement. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada, was the intended target. This incident follows recent tensions between Canada and India over the assassination of another Sikh leader, raising significant diplomatic concerns.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The U.S. government foiled a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States, allegedly involving Indian government elements. The U.S. has warned India and is seeking accountability.
- Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was the target of the assassination plot.
- The U.S. has communicated its concerns to the highest levels of the Indian government.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Sikh separatism has been a contentious issue between India and Sikh diaspora communities, particularly in countries like Canada and the U.S. Recent incidents have strained India's relations with these countries.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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