'Satisfied with India's ...': Washington on foiled assassination plot of Khalistani separatist in US

Pannun is a leader of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group that advocates for the secession of Punjab from India to create Khalistan.

A recent meeting between US and Indian officials regarding a probe into a foiled plot to assassinate a Khalistani separatist on US soil was described as productive, according to a US State Department spokesperson on Wednesday. The spokesperson expressed Washington's satisfaction with India's cooperation in the investigation.

Washington has accused Indian agents of being involved in an attempted assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani separatist leader and dual US-Canadian citizen, in New York last year. An Indian national was indicted for allegedly acting on behalf of an unnamed Indian government official. On Tuesday, an Indian government committee investigating the plot met with US officials in Washington to discuss the case.

"They did inform us that the individual who was named in the Justice Department indictment is no longer an employee of the Indian government," the State Department spokesperson stated in a press meet, without revealing further details. He defined the meeting as "productive."

"We are satisfied with (their) cooperation. It continues to be an ongoing process," he further noted, adding, "The US government broadly updated members of the (Indian) 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".

The US Justice Department has been pressing India to examine claims that an unnamed Indian intelligence official directed the assassination plan. During the meeting, Indian representatives informed the US that the individual named in the indictment is no longer employed by the Indian government, though further details were not provided.

The State Department spokesperson called the meeting "productive" and highlighted ongoing cooperation between the two nations.

"The US government provided an update on the investigation, and we've received an update from the Indian side as well," the spokesperson added, noting that the inquiry is still on.

This case is not the only instance of allegations against India targeting Khalistani separatists abroad. Earlier this week, Canada expelled Indian diplomats, linking them to the murder of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. New Delhi has denied the allegations and responded by expelling Canadian diplomats. Washington has hailed India's cooperation with the US in the Pannun case but highlighted a lack of cooperation with Canada.

The accusations have strained relations between India, the US, and Canada, as the West views India as a critical ally in countering China's influence in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)