New Delhi: The United States on Monday refrained from commenting on the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun murder plot, stating it had nothing further to add as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, currently in India, will be discussing the matter with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Speaking at a press briefing, National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said, “I don’t have more to add on the conversations that Jake Sullivan is having. He is still over there having these conversations.”
Further highlighting the focus of Sullivan’s visit to New Delhi, Kirby said, “But the main focus of his visit, as I said, was to look for ways to deepen the US-India bilateral relationship, particularly when it comes to emerging technology. I don’t have anything more to add to the conversations.”
This comes as on the same day, Monday, Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who is accused of being involved in the plotting the assassination of pro-Khalistan separatist Pannun on American soil, was produced before a federal court in New York where he pleaded not guilty.
The 53-year-old accused was extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic on June 14.
Gupta was arrested last year by the Czech authorities at the request of US authorities on charges of being involved in a plot to kill Khalistani separatist Pannun in New York.
As he was produced, Merrick Garland, the attorney general asserted that he will now face justice in a US Courtroom.
“The country will not tolerate attempts to harm its citizens.”
“This extradition makes clear that the Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm American citizens,” news agency PTI quoted Garland as saying.
“Nikhil Gupta will now face justice in an American courtroom for his involvement in an alleged plot, directed by an employee of the Indian government, to target and assassinate a US citizen for his support of the Sikh separatist movement in India,” the attorney general continued.
Charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire have been levelled against Gupta. If convicted, then he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each charge.
‘Don’t Have More to Add…’: US Refrains From Commenting on Pannun Murder Plot world-news World News | Latest International Global World News | Todays Breaking News Headlines
