Will R&AW’s overseas operations affect ties? | Explained

The Washington Post claimed that American officials believe that the R&AW’s previous chief Samant Goel had approved an assassination operation against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (in picture), a Khalistani activist lawyer of U.S. and Canadian nationality. File

The story so far: India’s external intelligence agency R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) was in the spotlight this week, as reports came in from the U.S., Canada, Australia and Pakistan of the alleged targeting and killing of Indian-origin Khalistani separatist operatives around the world, spearheaded by the agency.

The charges, that are yet to be proven in court, pertain to a number of investigations in different countries. This week, the U.S.-based Washington Post claimed that American officials believe that the R&AW’s previous chief Samant Goel had approved an assassination operation, that was foiled last year, against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani activist lawyer of U.S. and Canadian nationality on India’s most-wanted UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) terror list. It also revealed the name of a security official, Vikash Yadav, believed to have been at R&AW at the time, and said U.S. officials had discussed whether to indict him for ordering Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman for the job. In the indictment filed by the U.S. New York Southern District Attorney’s office last November, message transcripts indicated Mr. Gupta had also enquired about ordering a “hit” on a Khalistani activist in Canada, just days before the killing of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside Toronto in June 2023.

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