Report: US Foils Assassination Attempt on Sikh Separatist in America

The White House has revealed that the US has raised concerns with India about an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil. The target in question is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-Canada dual national who advocates for an independent Sikh homeland and has been designated a terrorist by India. The US authorities reportedly foiled the conspiracy and issued a warning to India regarding its suspected involvement. The Indian government has expressed surprise and concern, claiming that such activities are not in line with their policies. The US has stated that it expects anyone responsible to be held accountable. It remains unclear whether the US protest resulted in the operation being called off or disrupted by US authorities. Mr. Pannun serves as the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, an organization supporting the Khalistan movement, which seeks an independent Sikh state in India. The movement has lost prominence over time, but support among the Sikh diaspora has grown. Mr. Pannun has referred to the alleged attempt on his life as "transnational terrorism" and called for a response from the US government. The Sikhs for Justice group was declared an unlawful association by Indian authorities in 2019, and Mr. Pannun was listed as an individual terrorist the following year. He recently sparked controversy by warning Sikhs not to fly on Air India, leading to a case being filed against him. US officials reportedly shared details of the alleged plot with some of their allies, following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's statement investigating allegations of Indian involvement in another Sikh separatist's death. Relations between Canada and India have soured since the allegation, resulting in the expulsion of envoys from both countries. However, Canada has not publicly disclosed the evidence or intelligence leading to their belief in Indian involvement.