US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has expressed the Biden administration's contentment with India's handling of the Gurpatwant Singh Pannu murder conspiracy. Garcetti's statement follows recent allegations from Russia's Foreign Ministry accusing the US of unsubstantiated claims against India, as well as disrespecting India as a sovereign nation. The US Ambassador's affirmation of India's investigation only emerged after Russia's comments.
At an event hosted by the US think tank 'Council on Foreign Relations', Eric Garcetti remarked on the complexities in US-India relations, labeling the Pannu case as a significant challenge. He affirmed the Biden government's approval of India's responsiveness to their requests. However, Garcetti emphasized that any threat to the life of an American citizen on US soil is a non-negotiable boundary for the US.
Regarding the Gurpatwant Singh Pannu case, US State Department spokes person Matthew Miller declined to provide comments during a press briefing. Miller cited the ongoing nature of the investigation, emphasizing the need for allegations to be substantiated before any official statements are made. Notably, despite prior statements indicating America's anticipation of India's investigation report, Russia's accusations appear to have prompted a more cautious approach from the US.
The case revolves around Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh, a dual American and Canadian citizen known for anti-India rhetoric. Recent claims by America suggested a thwarted plot to assassinate Pannu on American soil, allegedly orchestrated by an Indian government official. This led to the arrest of Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta in the Czech Republic. While reports hinted at the involvement of an officer from India's intelligence agency RAW, India's Foreign Ministry dismissed these reports as unfounded.