US-India ties ‘very strong’ despite Pannun and Adani indictments: US officials

U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau react as world leaders gather for a group photo at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. Photo credit: AP

Senior US administration officials have pushed back on the indictment of Indian nationals, including a former Indian government employee, over the alleged plot to kill Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York and alleged securities and wire fraud against Indian businessman Gautam Adani. The strength of India-US ties has been derailed. Mr. Adani is considered close to Modi.

The officials were not named as part of the agreed terms for the briefing call on Tuesday.

“I think we can really say that this is a regulatory and law enforcement issue that is left to the agencies directly involved to speak about, and it would not be appropriate for us to comment from the White House or the State Department.” was in a strong position.

Another official said that bilateral relations are becoming more complex, diverse and deepening and challenges are inevitable on some occasions.

“The key is how we deal with them, and I can assure you that we have had the deepest possible, appropriate consultations between the two parties. And I am confident that we will be able to weather it appropriately,” he said.

One official said the relationship had developed “resilience” and maturity and open lines of communication to work through issues.

The Biden administration ends on January 20 next year, when the incoming administration of Republican President-elect Donald Trump begins. It is not clear how the next administration will address Pannun’s or Mr. Adani’s case. While the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is in principle independent, Mr Trump’s comments and nominations to the department have raised concerns about a decline in its level of independence.

It is likely that the Pannun case will proceed vigorously under the Trump administration, with Mr. Trump appointing Harmeet K. as Assistant Attorney General. Appointed Dhillon as head of the DoJ’s Civil Rights Division. Ms Dhillon wrote in X in November 2023 that the Indian government was sending “death squads” to the US and Canada to target North American Sikhs who spoke out about the “civil and human rights situation in Punjab”.