India slams report on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun: ‘speculative and irresponsible comments not helpful’

In response to media queries on The Washington Post report, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said, “The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter.”

“There is an ongoing investigation of the High-Level Committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others. Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful,” the MEA spokesperson said.

In the report, The Washington Post said, “That India would pursue lethal operations in North America has stunned Western security officials.” “Yadav’s identity and affiliation, which have not previously been reported, provide the most explicit evidence to date that the assassination plan — ultimately thwarted by US authorities — was directed from within the Indian spy service,” it said.

“Higher-ranking (Research and Analysis Wing) RAW officials have also been implicated, according to current and former Western security officials, as part of a sprawling investigation by the CIA, FBI and other agencies that has mapped potential links to (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) Modi’s inner circle,” it said.

“In reports that have been closely held within the American government, US intelligence agencies have assessed that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel,” the daily claimed.

“That finding is consistent with accounts provided to The Washington Post by former senior Indian security officials who had knowledge of the operation and said Goel was under extreme pressure to eliminate the alleged threat of Sikh extremists overseas. US spy agencies have more tentatively assessed that Modi’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, was probably aware of RAW’s plans to kill Sikh activists, but officials emphasised that no smoking gun proof has emerged,” it said.

Replying to questions on the report by The Washington Post, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said an investigation is underway and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is running a criminal investigation. “So anything specific to that I would have to refer you to the DOJ,” said Jean-Pierre.

The White House press secretary asserted that India is an important strategic partner of the United States and “we are pursuing an ambitious agenda to expand our cooperation in several areas”.

About the investigative report on the alleged assassination plot, Jean-Pierre said, “We’ve been really consistent about that and have laid that out multiple times, whether it’s a meeting here with the prime minister or a meeting abroad.” “This is a serious matter and we’re taking that very very seriously. The Government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate,” Jean-Pierre said.

“We expect accountability from the government based on that. But we are going to continue to raise our concerns. That’s not going to stop. We’re going to continue to raise our concerns directly, with the Indian government,” she added.

In November last year, federal prosecutors in the US accused an Indian intelligence official of planning and directing a plot to allegedly kill Singh Pannun in New York. The allegations, in an indictment filed by the US Department of Justice in a federal court in Manhattan, said the plot involved another Indian citizen and two individuals, a source and a hitman, who turned out to be undercover US officers.

In the same month in 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) booked designated ‘individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannu under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for allegedly threatening passengers flying via Air India as well as airlines with a global blockade and closure of operations from November 19. On July 10, 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs banned SFJ under the UAPA for its activities.