U.S. charges former Indian officer with murder plot against Sikh separatist
- The U.S. Justice Department unsealed an indictment against Vikash Yadav, linking him to a plot against a Sikh activist in New York.
- U.S. officials have communicated their desire for India to provide accountability and transparency in the ongoing investigations.
- The incident has raised questions about the trustworthiness and diplomatic relations between the U.S. and India amid strategic considerations.
In November 2023, charges were brought against Vikash Yadav, a former officer within India's Research and Analysis Wing, for his alleged involvement in a foiled murder plot targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canada citizen and Sikh separatist, in New York. The U.S. Justice Department asserts that Yadav was directed by an Indian intelligence official to carry out the assassination plans, which began in May 2023. U.S. officials expressed dissatisfaction with India's response, emphasizing the need for quick accountability regarding the incident and urging India to move efficiently through its investigative process. This situation has intensified tensions in U.S.-India relations, as both countries navigate the broader geopolitical implications of such allegations amid growing concerns over Sikh separatism and India's security measures against it.