After US Reports Plot, India To Study Security Concerns

NEW DELHI (ANI) – India on November 29 said it has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate all the relevant aspects regarding the concerns shared by the United States on bilateral security cooperation.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement today that the Indian government will be taking “necessary follow-up action” based on the findings of the inquiry committee.

“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,” Bagchi said in a statement.

“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,” the statement added.

On November 22, the US shared some inputs pertaining to a “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and others” during recent discussions on India-US security cooperation.

Bagchi had said that India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on its own security interests as well. He said the inputs are the cause of concern for both countries and necessary follow-up action is being taken.

Earlier, the UK-based Financial Times published a report that the US thwarted a plan to allegedly assassinate India-designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

US had informed India of concerns regarding the alleged plot to kill Pannun, the Financial Times reported quoting people familiar with the matter.

The news report citing people familiar with the matter said that US federal prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court.

The US Justice Department and the FBI have also not issued any formal statement.