US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist on American soil
Revelations that US authorities disrupted an alleged Indian plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil are being weighed against Canada’s earlier accusation that India killed another Sikh activist there, raising fears of a pattern of extraterritorial targeting. Commenters debate the credibility and evidence behind these claims, the role of Five Eyes intelligence sharing, and whether Washington and Ottawa are responding forcefully enough given their deepening strategic ties with India. The exchange also broadens into concerns about India’s democratic backsliding under Modi, Western realpolitik toward a fast-growing partner, and the fine line between counterterrorism and unlawful political killings abroad.
Context and Link to Canada Case
- Many comments connect the alleged US plot to the earlier killing of a Sikh separatist in Canada, treating them as part of the same pattern.
- Debate over Canada’s response: some see Canada as weak and “bullied” by India; others say the investigation is proceeding normally and already triggered serious economic and diplomatic consequences.
- Dispute over evidence: critics say Canada has shown too little publicly; defenders argue key intelligence likely came from US SIGINT and can’t easily be declassified.
US–India–Canada Diplomatic Dynamics
- Several argue the US and India are now too strategically important to each other (China, tech, defense) for this to cause a major rupture, especially since the US plot was foiled.
- Others think targeting on US soil is qualitatively different from Canada and could demand a stronger response.
- Some note Canada’s allies (US, UK, others) have been rhetorically supportive but not united or forceful in public condemnation.
Extrajudicial Killings and Double Standards
- Thread draws parallels to US drone strikes and Israeli assassinations, suggesting “democracies” routinely kill perceived threats abroad.
- Counterpoint: killing during military operations or in war zones is different from a peacetime hit in an allied state.
- Some see Western outrage as hypocritical, arguing India is copying Western tactics when faced with exiled militants abroad.
Pannun, Khalistan, and Terrorism Claims
- Pannun is variously described as “separatist,” “extremist,” or “professional provocateur.”
- References to his statements about Air India flights; some call them explicit threats, others say the wording allows multiple interpretations.
- Historical trauma of the 1985 Air India bombing is invoked to explain Indian sensitivity.
India’s Internal Politics and Media
- Multiple comments portray the current Indian government as increasingly autocratic, majoritarian, and reliant on propaganda and crony-owned media.
- Others push back, saying all major Indian parties have media cronies and that strong economic growth undercuts domestic risk to the ruling party.
Geopolitical History and Alignments
- Long subthread on why US–India weren’t closer earlier: US–Pakistan ties, India–Soviet cooperation, Cold War dynamics, and the non-aligned movement.
- Broad agreement that India now leans toward the US but insists on being a “partner,” not a subordinate ally.