United States authorities have successfully disrupted a plot aimed at harming Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Canada, according to a senior official from the Biden administration. The thwarted scheme prompted a stern warning to India from the White House, expressing apprehensions about potential involvement by the government in New Delhi.
The Biden administration is approaching the situation with the utmost gravity, having elevated the matter to the "senior-most levels" in discussions with Indian officials, as disclosed by White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson on Wednesday. The Financial Times initially reported on the foiled plot.
Watson conveyed that Indian authorities expressed "surprise and concern" upon being notified about the incident. "We are treating this issue with utmost seriousness, and it has been raised by the U.S. government with the Indian government, including at the senior-most levels," she stated. "We understand the Indian government is further investigating this issue and will have more to say about it in the coming days. We have conveyed our expectation that anyone deemed responsible should be held accountable."
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, identified as the target of the plot, claims dual citizenship in the United States and Canada, according to the senior administration official. The revelation comes two months after Canada asserted "credible" allegations linking Indian agents to the June murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a Vancouver suburb, allegations India has rejected.
On Monday, India's anti-terror agency filed a case against Pannun, alleging that he warned Air India passengers of potential danger in video messages shared on social media. The delicate nature of the situation poses a challenge for the Biden administration, which has been actively fostering closer ties with India amid shared concerns about China's growing influence.
In response to the Financial Times report, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi acknowledged that Washington had shared "some inputs," which were being examined by "relevant departments." He emphasized that the inputs pertained to the "nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others." The FT did not specify whether the U.S. protest to India led to the abandonment of the plot or if it was foiled by the FBI. The protest was reportedly lodged after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the U.S. in June.
As part of the response to the plot, U.S. federal prosecutors have reportedly filed a sealed indictment against at least one suspect in a New York district court, according to the FT. The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, like Nijjar, advocates for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland from India called Khalistan, a proposition viewed by New Delhi as a security threat due to historical violent insurgencies.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India has registered a case against Pannun, citing charges related to terrorism and conspiracy. Pannun, the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, labeled an "unlawful association" by India in 2019, was listed as an "individual terrorist" in 2020.