White House Confirms US Dy NSA Raising Alleged Pannu Assassination Plot In High-Level Meetings With NSA Doval, EAM Jaishankar

White House has confirmed that discussions regarding the alleged plot to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun took place in meetings between Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer and top Indian officials.

During the meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Finer acknowledged India's establishment of a committee of inquiry to investigate the foiled assassination plot on American soil.

The White House emphasised the importance of holding anyone found responsible accountable.

Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended India's decision to initiate a high-level probe, describing it as "good and appropriate" and expressing anticipation for the results.

The discussions occurred in the context of Finer's visit to New Delhi for an intersessional review of the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

Addressing challenges in India-US ties at the Global Technology Summit, Finer acknowledged the complex history between the two nations but emphasised the shared connections that outweigh differences. He underscored the cooperative agenda and the ability to work through differences constructively.

The meetings followed the charges brought by US federal prosecutors on 29 November, accusing Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta of collaborating with an unnamed Indian government employee in the alleged plot to assassinate Pannun.

Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic, and India announced a high-level probe in response to the matter of concern. Pannun is wanted by Indian probe agencies for various terror charges.

The Financial Times had previously reported that US authorities foiled the assassination plot and issued a warning to the Indian government regarding its potential involvement in the scheme.