US Indictment of Former RAW Officer Highlights Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Between India, Canada, and the US
Image Source: The Albertan
October 17, 2024: The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted an individual referred to as ‘CC1’, identified as a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). This individual allegedly played a role in a failed plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent figure among Khalistani separatists. The indictment implies that the plot was orchestrated at the behest of an Indian intelligence official.
During a press briefing on Wednesday (aired early Thursday morning in India), Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, confirmed that the individual mentioned in the indictment is no longer associated with the Indian government. Miller said, “They did inform us that the individual named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government.”
Miller noted that the meeting between U.S. officials and the Indian inquiry committee was productive. Both sides exchanged updates on their respective investigations, indicating a willingness to cooperate and share information. He stated the US was “satisfied.” “It continues to be an ongoing process. We continue to work with them on that, but we do appreciate the cooperation, and we appreciate them updating us on their investigation as we update them on ours,” he said.
In response to the situation, India dispatched a high-level inquiry committee to the United States. While the specific members of the committee have not been officially disclosed, it is believed to include senior officials, including retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officers. This committee was formed to investigate the allegations and review evidence provided by the U.S. regarding Nikhil Gupta, who is implicated in the assassination plot against Pannun. Miller added, “The fact that they sent an inquiry committee here, I think, demonstrates that they are taking this seriously. It is something they absolutely need to take seriously.”
The situation arose against the backdrop of escalating tensions between India and Canada, particularly after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that Indian diplomats might be involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh separatist leader, in June 2023. The assertion led to a significant diplomatic fallout, prompting India to expel a Canadian diplomat in response.
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English17 October 2024US Indictment of Former RAW Officer Highlights Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Between India, Canada, and the US
