ORAC
31st Jan 2024, 15:03
https://thewire.in/security/us-drone-sale-sky-guardian-pannu-killing-investigation
US Blocks $3-Billion Drone Sale to India Until ‘Meaningful Investigation’ of Pannun Assassination Conspiracy
New Delhi: The US government has held back delivery of 31 MQ-9A Sea Guardian and Sky Guardian drones to India until New Delhi carries out a “meaningful investigation” into the conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, The Wire has learned.
Pannun, who hold dual US and Canadian citizenship, is a New York-based Khalistan activist accused by India of terrorism.
The proposed $3 billion purchase includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy, while the Indian Air Force and Army are supposed to get eight Sky Guardian drones each.
Also held back by Washington are smaller Indian acquisitions, including a proposal to buy six Boeing P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft. (https://www.defencewatch.in/defence-news/latest-defence-news/boeing-pitches-for-six-more-p8i-aircraft-for-indian-navy) These are to supplement 12 P-8I Poseidon aircraft that the Indian Navy already operates.
Ironically, the Indian Ministry of Defence’s internal approval for the now-stalled drone procurement came in June 2023 (https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/india-approves-procurement-us-mq-9b-seaguardian-drones-sources-2023-06-15/), a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington. This was also the time when the conspiracy to kill Pannun – allegedly set in motion by an Indian security official named CC1, according to a federal indictment made public last November – shifted to high gear.
Today, “the purchase is stuck in the US Congress because of anger over the brazen attempt to assassinate Pannun. US representatives have frozen the legislative movement needed for proceeding with the sale,” a highly-placed source in Washington told this reporter. The source, who operates at the top layer of US policymaking, cannot be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media….
Contacted for comments on the delayed approvals for the drone deal, the US State Department said: “We do not comment on arms sales until we have formally notified [the US] Congress,”.
The Indian Navy and India’s defence ministry also did not respond to a request for comments.….
US Blocks $3-Billion Drone Sale to India Until ‘Meaningful Investigation’ of Pannun Assassination Conspiracy
New Delhi: The US government has held back delivery of 31 MQ-9A Sea Guardian and Sky Guardian drones to India until New Delhi carries out a “meaningful investigation” into the conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, The Wire has learned.
Pannun, who hold dual US and Canadian citizenship, is a New York-based Khalistan activist accused by India of terrorism.
The proposed $3 billion purchase includes 15 Sea Guardian drones for the Indian Navy, while the Indian Air Force and Army are supposed to get eight Sky Guardian drones each.
Also held back by Washington are smaller Indian acquisitions, including a proposal to buy six Boeing P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft. (https://www.defencewatch.in/defence-news/latest-defence-news/boeing-pitches-for-six-more-p8i-aircraft-for-indian-navy) These are to supplement 12 P-8I Poseidon aircraft that the Indian Navy already operates.
Ironically, the Indian Ministry of Defence’s internal approval for the now-stalled drone procurement came in June 2023 (https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/india-approves-procurement-us-mq-9b-seaguardian-drones-sources-2023-06-15/), a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington. This was also the time when the conspiracy to kill Pannun – allegedly set in motion by an Indian security official named CC1, according to a federal indictment made public last November – shifted to high gear.
Today, “the purchase is stuck in the US Congress because of anger over the brazen attempt to assassinate Pannun. US representatives have frozen the legislative movement needed for proceeding with the sale,” a highly-placed source in Washington told this reporter. The source, who operates at the top layer of US policymaking, cannot be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media….
Contacted for comments on the delayed approvals for the drone deal, the US State Department said: “We do not comment on arms sales until we have formally notified [the US] Congress,”.
The Indian Navy and India’s defence ministry also did not respond to a request for comments.….