The government has set up a high-level committee to look into the security concerns raised by the US, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on November 29.
The US recently shared with New Delhi that Washington was concerned about a "nexus between organised criminals, gun runners and terrorists" in India. The claim followed news reports that the US authorities thwarted a plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. "During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others. The inputs are a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow-up action," Bagchi said.
Financial Times reported last week that there was a conspiracy to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an Americal-Canadian citizen, the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, and a designated terrorist in India. The report said US President Joe Biden raised the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September.
Bagchi on November 29 made a detailed statement reiterating how India takes such inputs seriously. "We have already said that during the course of discussions with the US on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others. We had also indicated that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue. In this context, it is informed that on 18 November 2023, the Government of India constituted a high-level Enquiry Committee to look into all the relevant aspects of the matter. Government of India will take necessary follow-up action based on the finding of the Enquiry Committee," it said.
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