On Monday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh brought up the matter of anti-India actions carried out on American territory by the outlawed Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in his discussion with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as reported by news agency ANI, referencing sources.
In his discussion with Gabbard in Delhi, Singh conveyed India’s worries regarding the SFJ led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and urged the US to take decisive measures against the illegal group, they noted.
The meeting gained importance after US prosecutors indicted an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, for his purported role in the plot to murder Pannun with another alleged Indian government official in November of the previous year.
In November 2023, the US Department of Justice reported that it had discovered a plot to murder Pannun, purportedly masterminded by an individual working for the Indian government.
In subsequent revelations, the individual in question was recognized as an operative of India’s external intelligence agency R&AW who reportedly tried to employ a hitman to assassinate the SFJ leader.
India has refuted any participation in the purported effort to assassinate Pannun and initiated a top-level inquiry into the matter.
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Pannun possesses dual citizenship of the US and Canada and is sought in India for terrorism allegations. He has been classified as a terrorist under the strict anti-terror legislation known as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Gabbard reached the national capital early on Sunday for a two-and-a-half-day visit, marking the first high-level trip to India by a senior official from the Donald Trump administration.
On Monday, she met Rajnath Singh and engaged in discussions that covered various topics aimed at strengthening the comprehensive strategic relationship between India and the US, particularly in defense and information sharing.
