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NATION DECEMBER 08, 2023 | The Indian Eye 7

tween the US and India.
The news report citing people
familiar with the matter goes on to
claim, that US federal prosecutors
have filed a sealed indictment against
at least one alleged perpetrator of the
plot in a New York district court.
Now, foreign Policy experts have
reacted to the indictment filed by the
United States Justice Department
against an Indian national for his al-
leged involvement in a foiled plot to
assassinate a US-based leader of the
Sikh separatist movement and a citi-
zen in New York. Most policy experts
feel that this is unlikely to have any
impact on Indo-US ties with deep
trust between the two sides.
On Wednesday, the US Justice
Department claimed that an Indi-
an government employee (named
CC-1), who was not identified in the
indictment filed in a federal court in
Manhattan, recruited an Indian na-
tional named Nikhil Gupta to hire a
hitman to carry out the assassination, Members of JAGO party and Sikh Welfare Organisation protest march against Gurpatwant Pannun at Pakistani embassy in New Delhi (ANI file photo)
which was foiled by US authorities.
In his post on X, Michael Kugel- Indian government to cooperate with
man the South Asia Institute Director Canada in the investigation of the
at The Wilson Center said that the In- killing of India-designated terrorist
do-US strategic relationship was too Hardeep Singh Nijjar, CBC News
big to fail. reported.
“Even w/more info known about Sreenivasan emphasised that
the plot, I still think damage to US-In- there might be some misunderstand-
dia ties will be modest. White House ing, saying, “So it’s a complex issue,
knew of plot in July, but no cancel- but I certainly know that India is not
ation of later high-level meets (Biden/ involved. There could be some mis-
Modi at G20, 2+2). US didn’t re- understanding because India is not
taliate, just said it shouldn’t happen in this kind of business.” He further
again. A relationship too big to fail. explained that the lack of proof or ev-
I don’t want to underplay the signif- idence raises doubts about the accu-
icance of this a strategic partner car- racy of the allegations.
rying out an assassination on US soil. Addressing the unexpected na-
With many/most other countries, the ture of the news, Sreenivasan men-
relationship would be torpedoed. But tioned a similar story carried by the
ample trust/strategic considerations Financial Times a few days earlier,
loom large. Also leads to free passes Canadian High Commissioner to India Cameron Mackay arrives at the Ministry of External expressing surprise at the lack of
most don’t get” Kugelman said in his Affairs (MEA) Headquarters as he was summoned by the MEA in a reciprocal move to Canada concrete evidence. He acknowledged
post on X. the complexity of the issue but reit-
In its indictment, the US Justice expelling a senior Indian diplomat, in New Delhi on Tuesday in September (ANI Photo) erated that India does not engage in
Department has claimed that, earlier such activities.
this year, an Indian government em- of India. “India has virtually nothing hard-fought progress in US-India re- “Well, this is a news which has
ployee working together with others, to worry about after today’s explosive lations,” Curtis said in her post on X. come out of the court, but a few days
including Gupta, allegdly directed a news. Reality is DC needs New Delhi In another related development, ago, the Financial Times carried the
plot to assassinate a political activ- far more than other way around due following Canadian Prime Minister same story. And, that time, everybody
ist who is a US citizen of Indian or- to Biden admin’s Indo-Pacific strate- Justin Trudeau’s recent call for India’s was quite surprised as to how this
igin residing in New York City. It is gy to counter China. But US leeway cooperation in the investigation of the happened. Because there is no proof
claimed that Gupta, is an associate of isn’t unlimited and more bad behav- killing of India-designated terrorist or evidence or anything like that,”
CC-1, and has described his involve- ior could chip away at recent gains,” Hardeep Singh Nijjar, former diplo- said Sreenivasan.
ment in international narcotics and Grossman said in his post on X. mat TP Sreenivasan said that India is The former diplomat acknowl-
weapons trafficking in his commu- Lisa Curtis, Director of the In- not involved in such activities. “So, it’s edged the relations between India
nications with CC-1. The indictment do-Pacific Security Program at the a complex issue, but, I certainly know and the United States but clarified,
claims CC -1 directed the assassina- Center for a New American Security that India is not involved. So, there “There is no deliberate attempt on
tion plot from India. however felt that India needs to co- could be some misunderstanding on the part of the United States to accuse
Derek J Grossman, National Se- operate with the US to address the again, because India is not in this kind India.” He pointed out that once an
curity and Indo-Pacific analyst at the issue. “India should cooperate fully of business,” Sreenivasan said. issue goes to court in the US system,
RAND Corporation says that Wash- and immediately with US to address On Wednesday, Canadian Prime it is up to the court to decide whether
ington DC recognises the importance this shocking development or risk Minister Justin Trudeau called on the to reveal details.

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