WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House expressed serious concern on Monday about the reported involvement of the Indian intelligence service in two assassination plots in Canada and the United States.
According to The Washington Post, an officer from India's intelligence service was directly involved in a foiled plan to assassinate a U.S. citizen known for his criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the United States. The officer was also allegedly involved in the separate shooting death of a Sikh activist in Canada last June. India's foreign ministry criticized The Washington Post's report, calling it "unwarranted and unsubstantiated" as New Delhi investigates the matter.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful."
"This is a serious matter, and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness," said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. "We will continue to voice our concerns."
In November, U.S. authorities claimed that an Indian government official had directed the plot in the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist with dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship.
India has distanced itself from the plot, pledging to conduct a formal investigation into U.S. concerns and to take necessary actions based on the findings of a panel established on Nov. 18. Pannun serves as the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a group labeled an "unlawful association" by India in 2019 for its alleged involvement in extremist activities. In 2020, India designated Pannun as an "individual terrorist."
The issue is sensitive for both India and the Biden administration as they seek to strengthen ties amidst shared concerns about China's increasing influence.
The news of the U.S. plot came two months after Canada announced its investigation into credible allegations linking Indian agents to the June murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist, in a Vancouver suburb.
India has vehemently denied Ottawa's accusations.