US Awaits Results of Indian Investigation into Alleged Plot Against Sikh Leader
The United States is closely monitoring the Indian government's investigation into allegations of a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the seriousness of the matter and expressed confidence in India's commitment to a thorough investigation.
"They (Indian government) opened a committee of inquiry to look into the matter, and that work is ongoing; we'll wait to see the results. But we made it very clear that it's something that we are taking seriously and we think they, too, should take this seriously," Miller stated during a press conference.
The allegations surfaced following a report by The Washington Post, which cited unnamed sources and implicated an officer from India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in the alleged plot. India strongly refuted the claims, terming them "unwarranted and unsubstantiated."
"The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He confirmed that a high-level inquiry committee established by the Indian government is actively investigating the case based on inputs provided by the US.
The US has refrained from commenting on the specifics of the investigation, deferring to the Canadian authorities and the US Department of Justice for details on their respective investigations. However, the State Department's stance underscores the seriousness with which the US views the allegations and its expectation of a comprehensive investigation by the Indian government.