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Working with India on the Pannun issue, Lu tells House Committee
The senior State Department official categorically denied that the United States had anything to do with the former Prime Minister’s ejection from office that led to the crisis in Pakistan
Donald Lu, United States diplomat serving as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs since 2021 / Screengrab from official video
Maintaining that the allegations against India’s involvement in the targeting of a Sikh American is a serious issue between the two countries, a senior State Department official assured law makers that the Biden administration looks at the issue “incredibly seriously” and has raised it at the highest levels.
At a Congression Sub Committee hearing on Pakistan After Elections, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Donald Lu said that Washington was working with New Delhi to work “quickly and transparently” and “to make sure justice is done”.
Ranking Member Dean Phillips in the House Sub Committee on Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia asked Secretary Lu if the administration was contemplating sanctions against India for the allegations of Official India connected to a plot to kill a Sikh American on American soil (Gurpatwant Singh Pannun).
“The administration of course recently placed sanctions on more than 500 individuals relating to the killing of Lexie Navalny in Russia on Russian soil. So my question is are any similar sanctions or travel bans being considered for those who we believe may be responsible for the attempted murder of Mr. Pannun?”, the Minnesota Democrat asked.
“This is a serious issue…between the United States and India. The Department of Justice has alleged that an Indian citizen at the behest of someone working in the Indian government has attempted to kill an American citizen of American soil. We take this in the administration incredibly seriously and have raised it at the highest levels with India” Assistant Secretary Lu responded without getting into the subject of sanctions.
“ We are at the moment working with India to encourage India to hold accountable, those responsible for this terrible crime. What we can see is that India itself has announced that they have created a committee of inquiry to look into this matter and we ask them to work quickly and transparently to make sure justice is done”, he added.
In his prepared opening statement Lu maintained that Pakistan is an important partner of the United States where there weas the commitment to strengthen the democratic institutions of that country, cooperating to counter terrorist threats from the al Qaeda and the ISIS and bolstering respect for human rights. “ Most importantly, the United States plays a critical role in promoting economic stability in Pakistan”, the senior administration official said.
The senior State Department official categorically denied that the United States had anything to do with the former Prime Minister’s ejection from office that led to the crisis in the country. “… these allegations, this conspiracy theory is a lie. It is a complete falsehood. I have reviewed the press reporting related to this what's called the cipher in Pakistan, the alleged leak diplomatic cable from the embassy here. It is not accurate”, Assistant Secretary Lu said.
“…. at no point does it accuse the United States government or me personally of taking steps against Imran Khan. And thirdly, the other person in the meeting, the then ambassador of Pakistan to the United States has testified to his own government that there was no conspiracy. We respect the sovereignty of Pakistan”, he added.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Sub Committee, Mike McCaul of Texas, argued that Pakistan’s security is at risk from terror outfits because of the Biden administration’s “disastrous withdrawal” from Afghanistan in 2021. “ It remains vitally important that the United States and Pakistan continue to work together to counter terrorism. While challenges remain ahead, the United States and Pakistan has continue to work together to promote regional stability”, the Chair observed.
“We also know that if the United States pulls away from our relationship with Pakistan, the Chinese Communist Party will gain even more influence. And while we seek to help nations thrive, CCP is only interested and in one way, relationship of debt, trap diplomacy and Pakistan and their ground zero for their belt and road initiative”, the Texas Republican maintained.
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