Senior U.S. officials recently held a closed-door meeting with Sikh separatists on Thursday to discuss concerns about threats facing the Sikh community in the United States, including a foiled murder plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun last year. The meeting, attended by multiple participants, comes ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden's scheduled meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The U.S. has urged India to investigate the alleged murder plot against Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and a prominent figure advocating for Khalistan, a separatist movement seeking to establish an independent Sikh state in northern India. Pannun is a key leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a designated terrorist organization under Indian law. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India has also classified Pannun as a terrorist for his activities promoting violent separatism. While U.S. authorities are conducting their own investigation, India's government has consistently denied any involvement in the purported assassination attempt.
The National Security Council organized the meeting, during which U.S. officials briefed attendees on ongoing discussions with India. The officials reiterated their commitment to protecting Americans from what they termed "transnational repression," or efforts by foreign governments to threaten or harm individuals living abroad. This comes at a time when the Biden administration must balance human rights concerns with its broader goal of deepening strategic ties with India, a key partner in countering China and Russia's influence in the Indo-Pacific.
President Biden and Prime Minister Modi are expected to meet on the sidelines of a Quad alliance summit involving the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia. Both nations share significant security interests, which complicates diplomatic conversations, especially with regard to human rights concerns raised by the Sikh community. India, however, views the Khalistan movement as a significant threat to its national security and considers groups such as KLF as extremist and violent.
Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, praised U.S. officials for their vigilance in protecting the Sikh community but called for further action. "We asked them to do more, and we will hold them to their assurances that they will," Singh said after the meeting.
Pannun, whose separatist agenda has made him a longstanding target of Indian intelligence, recently filed a civil lawsuit against the Indian government over the alleged assassination attempt. This lawsuit follows public claims made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last September, alleging credible intelligence linking India to the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist leader based in Canada. India, however, has categorically denied these accusations and maintains that individuals like Pannun and Nijjar are involved in destabilizing activities aimed at India's territorial integrity.
In the aftermath of Nijjar’s killing, U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, issued private warnings to several Sikh activists about potential threats to their lives, heightening concerns within the Sikh diaspora in North America. U.S. officials have urged community members to report any threats or harassment to local authorities and have emphasized efforts to educate law enforcement about specific threats faced by Sikh Americans.
The Justice Department has charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, with attempting to orchestrate Pannun’s murder on behalf of an unnamed Indian intelligence officer. Gupta, who has pleaded not guilty, awaits trial in New York City. In Canada, four other Indian nationals face charges related to Nijjar’s death. Despite the ongoing cases, India has refuted any involvement in these incidents and continues to emphasize its fight against terrorism and extremist groups.
As the Biden administration navigates its relationship with India, Sikh activists in the U.S. remain vocal about their concerns. However, India's position remains clear: it considers the Khalistan movement, and figures like Pannun, as terrorist threats. The ongoing dialogue on this issue is expected to further complicate Indo-U.S. relations, as both nations work to strengthen their strategic partnership in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
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