New Delhi: The United States has consistently pressed India for updates on the Indian investigation into the alleged foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and made it clear that it is seeking accountability in the case, a senior official said on Wednesday. Biden administration official.
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the US raised the issue directly at the highest levels of the Indian government.
Campbell made the comments at a virtual press conference on his and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan's visit to India last week.
"We have had a constructive dialogue with India on this issue and I would say they have been responsive to our concerns," he said.
"We have made it clear that we seek accountability from the Government of India and have consistently sought updates on the Indian inquiry committee's investigations," the senior official said.
"And I would just say that we raised this issue directly with the Indian government ... at the highest levels between our two sides," he said.
Campbell was responding to a question about whether the "murder-for-hire" plot against Pannun was raised during meetings he and Sullivan held with their Indian counterparts.
In November last year, US federal prosecutors accused Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.
Pannun, wanted in India on terrorism charges, has dual American and Canadian citizenship.
Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the United States on June 14.
Following the US accusations, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to examine US input into the plot.
In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Pannun on American soil.
When asked about reports suggesting the plot was the work of some rogue elements, Campbell did not give a direct answer but said more information about the case was likely to come through police channels.
"I don't really have anything more to add to what I've already said. I will say that we also believe that Indian colleagues are carefully analyzing what possible institutional reforms might be necessary," he said.
"In the wake of some of these allegations and reports that you described, those discussions continue between the United States and India and I think everything else is likely to come through law enforcement channels," said the deputy secretary of state for USA.
Following Gupta's extradition, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he "makes it clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens."
"Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in a US court for his role in an alleged plot, led by an Indian government employee, to attack and murder a US citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India," he said. .
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the US raised the issue directly at the highest levels of the Indian government.
Campbell made the comments at a virtual press conference on his and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan's visit to India last week.
"We have had a constructive dialogue with India on this issue and I would say they have been responsive to our concerns," he said.
"We have made it clear that we seek accountability from the Government of India and have consistently sought updates on the Indian inquiry committee's investigations," the senior official said.
"And I would just say that we raised this issue directly with the Indian government ... at the highest levels between our two sides," he said.
Campbell was responding to a question about whether the "murder-for-hire" plot against Pannun was raised during meetings he and Sullivan held with their Indian counterparts.
In November last year, US federal prosecutors accused Indian national Nikhil Gupta of working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun in New York.
Pannun, wanted in India on terrorism charges, has dual American and Canadian citizenship.
Gupta, who was arrested in the Czech Republic in June last year, was extradited to the United States on June 14.
Following the US accusations, India appointed a high-level inquiry committee to examine US input into the plot.
In April, The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Pannun on American soil.
When asked about reports suggesting the plot was the work of some rogue elements, Campbell did not give a direct answer but said more information about the case was likely to come through police channels.
"I don't really have anything more to add to what I've already said. I will say that we also believe that Indian colleagues are carefully analyzing what possible institutional reforms might be necessary," he said.
"In the wake of some of these allegations and reports that you described, those discussions continue between the United States and India and I think everything else is likely to come through law enforcement channels," said the deputy secretary of state for USA.
Following Gupta's extradition, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he "makes it clear that the Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens."
"Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in a US court for his role in an alleged plot, led by an Indian government employee, to attack and murder a US citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India," he said. .