A high-level Indian government inquiry committee is set to meet with U.S. officials in Washington this week, as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of Indian involvement in a foiled assassination plot targeting a prominent Sikh separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The move comes after persistent pressure from U.S. authorities, who have urged India to investigate the claims put forward by the U.S. Department of Justice that an unnamed Indian intelligence official orchestrated plans to kill Pannun in the U.S. last year.
Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen and a leader of the Khalistan movement, has long been an outspoken advocate for the creation of an independent Sikh state, called Khalistan, in northern India. His activism has made him a controversial figure in India, where the government views the Khalistan movement as a threat to national unity and stability. The allegations of a plot to assassinate him have exacerbated tensions between India and both the U.S. and Canada, the latter already embroiled in a diplomatic dispute over a similar case involving the assassination of another Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The upcoming meeting between the Indian committee and U.S. officials is a significant development in the case, signaling a rare instance of direct cooperation between the two countries on an issue of such sensitivity. The U.S. State Department, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that the Indian committee will be in Washington on October 15th to discuss the findings of their investigation and receive an update on the U.S. case.
In a highly unusual move, the U.S. State Department issued a public statement about the progress of an investigation being carried out by a foreign government. “An Indian Enquiry Committee is actively investigating the individual involved in the plot, and India has informed the U.S. that they are also examining other potential linkages of the former government employee who has been implicated,” the statement read. It further clarified that the committee’s visit to Washington would involve sharing information gathered thus far and discussing the U.S. Justice Department’s ongoing investigation.
While India has been relatively silent on the case since announcing its formal investigation in November 2023, this new phase of the inquiry suggests that both governments are treating the matter with increased urgency, particularly as it threatens to strain relations between India and key Western allies.
India’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but sources close to the matter indicate that Indian officials are keen to resolve the case without further escalation. For New Delhi, the stakes are high—not only is the case linked to accusations of extrajudicial state-sponsored actions on foreign soil, but it also comes at a time when India is seeking to position itself as a responsible global power.
The U.S. government’s claims center around an alleged plot to assassinate Pannun, a prominent figure in the Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland in India’s Punjab region. The movement has deep roots, dating back to the 1980s, when it reached its peak during a period of violence and unrest in India. Though the insurgency was largely suppressed by the Indian government, pro-Khalistan sentiment has persisted among segments of the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.
Pannun, who serves as the legal adviser to Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), an organization banned in India for its secessionist activities, has consistently pushed for a referendum on the creation of Khalistan. His vocal stance, coupled with his use of legal tools to challenge Indian sovereignty, has made him a target of the Indian government, which has labeled SFJ a terrorist group.
The plot to assassinate Pannun allegedly involved coordination by an Indian intelligence official, though details of the plan remain murky. According to U.S. sources, Pannun was warned by federal law enforcement about the threat against his life in 2023, leading to heightened security measures. U.S. officials have since been investigating whether the plan was state-sanctioned or carried out by rogue elements within Indian intelligence services.
While the case against the unnamed Indian intelligence official remains under investigation, U.S. authorities have been vocal in urging India to take the matter seriously. The Justice Department has expressed concern over what it sees as a potential violation of U.S. sovereignty if a foreign government was involved in orchestrating an assassination on American soil.
India’s handling of the Pannun case is complicated by the broader geopolitical context in which it finds itself. Relations between India and Canada have already deteriorated sharply over a similar controversy involving the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader, in June 2023.
Nijjar, like Pannun, was a prominent supporter of Khalistan and had long been on the radar of Indian authorities for his alleged involvement in terrorist activities. His assassination in British Columbia prompted a diplomatic standoff between Ottawa and New Delhi, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing India of having credible links to the killing. India has vehemently denied any involvement, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated.
In response to Trudeau’s public statements, India took the unprecedented step of withdrawing its ambassador to Canada and scaling back its diplomatic presence. The move was seen as a sign of escalating tensions between the two nations, which have since engaged in a tit-for-tat diplomatic dispute. Canada has also named several Indian officials as “persons of interest” in the Nijjar investigation, further souring relations between the two countries.
The Pannun case adds another layer of complexity to India’s diplomatic challenges. While Canada has been the more vocal of the two countries in accusing India of targeting Sikh separatists on foreign soil, the U.S. has thus far taken a more measured approach. However, the involvement of the U.S. Justice Department and the State Department’s public statement indicate that Washington is closely monitoring the situation and expects India to fully cooperate in the investigation.
The allegations against India come at a delicate time for the country’s international relations, particularly with Western allies. India has positioned itself as a key player in the Indo-Pacific region and has sought to strengthen ties with the U.S. and other democratic nations as a counterbalance to China’s rising influence. The recent tensions, however, threaten to overshadow these efforts and could complicate India’s diplomatic priorities.
For its part, the U.S. has been careful not to publicly escalate the issue, likely due to the broader strategic partnership it shares with India. As part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) alongside Australia and Japan, India is seen as a crucial ally in maintaining regional stability and countering China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
At the same time, the U.S. has made clear that it will not tolerate any foreign interference or extrajudicial actions on its soil. Should the investigation reveal credible evidence of Indian involvement in the plot against Pannun, it could force Washington to recalibrate its approach to its partnership with India.
Despite the growing international scrutiny, India has largely refrained from making any public statements regarding the investigation into the alleged plot against Pannun. Since the formal announcement of its inquiry last year, Indian officials have kept a low profile, focusing instead on internal reviews and gathering intelligence on the accused former government employee.
This reticence is likely a calculated strategy aimed at avoiding further inflaming the situation while the investigation unfolds. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has consistently denied any involvement in both the Pannun and Nijjar cases, emphasizing India’s commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, some experts suggest that India’s response is also shaped by domestic political considerations. The Modi government has taken a hardline stance against the Khalistan movement, which it views as a direct threat to India’s unity. Any perception of weakness in dealing with separatists—especially those operating abroad—could be politically damaging for Modi, who has built his political brand on nationalist rhetoric and a tough stance on terrorism.
As the Indian enquiry committee prepares to meet with U.S. officials in Washington, much remains uncertain about the outcome of the investigation and its potential impact on India’s foreign relations. The U.S. has made it clear that it expects a thorough and transparent inquiry, while India will be keen to avoid any conclusion that could further strain its ties with key Western allies.
The Pannun case is likely to remain a flashpoint in India’s relations with both the U.S. and Canada in the coming months, as investigations continue and diplomatic maneuvering intensifies. For India, the challenge will be to balance its domestic political imperatives with the need to maintain strong international partnerships—no easy task in an increasingly interconnected and complex global landscape.
