The Chhattisgarh

Tag: India-US Ties

  • ‘Accused No Longer Indian Govt Employee, Satisfied With Cooperation’: US On Pannun ‘Assassination’ Probe | world news

    The United States held a “productive meeting” with officials from the India Inquiry Committee on Wednesday, with a State Department official expressing satisfaction with the cooperation from the Indian side. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller shared details during his daily news conference, stating, “We are satisfied with the cooperation. It continues to be an ongoing process. We continue to work with them on that, but we do appreciate the cooperation and we appreciate them updating us on their investigation as we update them on ours.”

    Miller’s comments came in response to inquiries about the visit from the India Inquiry Committee, which is investigating US allegations regarding the involvement of an Indian official in the assassination plot of Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who also holds American citizenship.

    He elaborated, “The meeting that occurred yesterday – we, being the US government broadly – ​​updated members of the Committee of Inquiry about the investigation that the United States has been conducting. We’ve received an update from them on the investigation that they have been conducting. It was a productive meeting and I will leave it at that.”

    Miller also noted that the individual named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government, providing further context to the ongoing investigation.

  • Russia Slams US For Alleging India’s Role In Pannun’s Foiled Murder Plot, Says ‘No Reliable Evidence…’ world news

    The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed the US’s allegations against India for a foiled assassination plot against pro-Khalistan radical Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, saying that Washington has not yet provided any reliable evidence of Indian citizens’ involvement in the case. “According to the information we have, Washington has yet to provide any credible evidence of Indian citizens’ involvement in the planning of the murder of a certain GS Pannun.

    “Speculation on this topic in the absence of evidence is unacceptable,” said Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman, during a briefing on Wednesday. She said that the United States does not understand the national mentality or the historical context of the Indian state’s development, and that it disrespects India as a state.

    Zakharova’s remarks came in response to a media question about Moscow’s reaction to allegations against an Indian official of a foiled “assassination” plot, and the American news publication ‘The Washington Post’ stating that India is attempting to do the same as Russia and Saudi Arabia. against its opponent.

    “I believe ‘The Washington Post’ should use the term “repressive regime” and everything you quoted about Washington. It is difficult to imagine a more repressive regime than Washington, both domestically and internationally. Now, directly to your question,” she added. .

    “Regular unfounded accusations by the US against New Delhi (we see that they falsely accuse not only India but also many other states) of violating religious freedoms reflect the US’ misunderstanding of the national mentality, the historical context of the development of the Indian state. , and disrespect for India as a state,” she stated.

    “This doesn’t just apply to India. The reason is a desire to destabilize India’s internal political situation in order to complicate the upcoming general elections. This is an example of interference in India’s internal affairs,” she said.

    In April, the External Affairs Ministry rejected a report in The Washington Post that named an Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official as being involved in the alleged plot to kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.

    Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), described the US media report as “speculative and irresponsible” and described it as an “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputation on a “serious matter” that is being investigated.

  • US Prez Biden Terms India As ‘Xenophobic’ In Immigration Speech Ahead Of Presidential Election | world news

    US President Joe Biden has labeled two of his QUAD partners, India and Japan, and two of his adversaries, Russia and China, as “xenophobic” nations, claiming that none of these countries, unlike the United States, welcome immigrants. “This election is about liberty, America, and democracy. That’s why I bady need you. You and many others have contributed to the growth of our economy. Why? “Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden told supporters at a fundraiser here Wednesday evening. .

    “We look to the reason—look, think about it. Why is China’s economy stalling so badly? Why is Japan having trouble? Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they are xenophobic. Biden, the Democratic Party’s candidate, stated that they don’t want immigrants.

    Immigration is a hot topic in the upcoming presidential election on November 5, when Biden will face former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party’s presumptive candidate.

    Their nominations will be confirmed during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

    “Immigrants are what give us strength. This is not a joke. That’s not hyperbole, because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and contribute,” the president said at the Democratic Party fundraising event. India and Japan are members of QUAD, a four-member strategic security dialogue that includes the United States and Australia.

    Last year, Biden hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a state visit, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida paid an official visit to the White House last month. Biden has come under fire from his opponents and the Republican Party for his immigration policies, as hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants enter the United States each month.

  • ‘Serious Issue…’: US Calls For Accountablity In Alleged Murder Plot Of Khalistani Terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun |

    New Deljhi: In a recent development that has strained diplomatic relations between the United States and India, a high-ranking US diplomat has labeled the alleged assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist, as a “serious issue” for both nations. Donald Lu, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, emphasized the gravity of the situation during a Congressional hearing focused on Pakistan’s election. 

    “This is a serious issue..We take it incredibly seriously, raised at the highest level with India. Encourage India to hold accountable those responsible”, Lu said.

    Lu pointed out that the US Department of Justice has implicated an Indian citizen, allegedly acting under the direction of an Indian government official, in a plot to assassinate Pannun on American soil. The administration is taking this accusation very seriously, and the matter has been escalated to the highest levels of dialogue with India.

    In response to this incident, India has established a committee to conduct a thorough investigation. Lu urged for a swift and transparent inquiry to ensure that justice prevails. The accused, Nikhil Gupta, is currently detained and faces charges of murder-for-hire.

    The US Justice Department’s indictment alleges that an unnamed Indian government employee orchestrated the recruitment of Gupta to hire a hitman for the assassination, which was ultimately thwarted by US authorities. This case has brought to light the complex web of international relations and the challenges of ensuring accountability across borders.

    Last December, Jon Finer, the US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, acknowledged the steps taken by India to address the situation, including the formation of a Committee of Enquiry.