According to a report by The Wire, US lawmakers have held up a $3 Billion Predator drone sale to India until a ‘meaningful investigation’ is conducted into the conspiracy case to kill pro-Khalistan Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Following the reports, US embassy spokesperson Chris Elms told PTI that the government continues to discuss the sale with the US Congress “consistent with standard processes and policies guiding such arm sales decisions.”
Blocking of the Deal
The report mentioned that the drone deal, under which 15 Sea Guardian drones are to be procured for the Indian Navy and eight Sky Guardian drones each are to be procured for the Indian Army and the Air Force, has been stalled.
#Security | US Blocks $3-Billion Drone Sale to India Until ‘Meaningful Investigation’ of Pannun Assassination Conspiracy@ajaishukla✍️https://t.co/Ajmhmdb0nd
— The Wire (@thewire_in) January 31, 2024
Additionally, smaller deals with the US, including a proposal to purchase six Boeing P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, are also stuck. As per the report, a source said that the US lawmakers have frozen the legislative movement needed to materialise the deal as there is anger over the “brazen attempts” to assassinate Pannun.
The Allegations
The US had alleged in November 2023 that an Indian government official named ‘CC1’ enlisted Indian national Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to kill the “Sikhs for Justice” founder Pannun on US soil. Gupta was arrested on 30 June in the Czech Republic, where he is currently in detention. The US has sought the extradition of Gupta for “the crime of conspiracy to commit murder for hire.”
Following the allegations, India had agreed to cooperate in the investigations. In a joint statement, five US lawmakers of Indian origin had warned that India must investigate the allegations, otherwise, the India-US ties could face “significant damage.”
The report comes days after several US State Department Officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu, visited India and reportedly urged New Delhi to expedite the investigation.
US Congress Discussing the Sale
Sources familiar with the matter said that the Biden Administration had yet to notify the US Congress about the deal. Responding to the question, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller asserted that the government continues to consult with Congress members to address any concerns that they might have. He added that the US-India Defence Partnership has seen significant growth over the past decade and remarked that the deal offers “significant potential to further advance strategic technology cooperation with India.”
Biden government ‘continues to discuss’ drone deal with US Congress, says American Embassy in India, but doesn't deny report in @thewire_in that said US lawmakers have placed a hold over Pannun case. Reporting with @dperi84 https://t.co/AHvkPU2Bzc
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) February 1, 2024
Meanwhile, the US embassy spokesperson mentioned that it is part of the standard process for the State Department to engage with congressional foreign affairs committees before a formal notification to address questions from committee staff is made. However, neither the US Embassy in India nor the State Department denied the reports.
The Deal
The deal was announced during Indian PM Narendra Modi’s US visit last June, and was expected to be finalised by this January. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also discussed the agreement in November.
Under the deal, India intends to procure General Atomic’s MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). At approximately 20% of the cost per hour of a large human-flown maritime patrol aircraft, the MQ-9Bs can provide around 80% of its capability.
The drones will augment India’s security apparatus along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and along the Pakistan border. By enabling India to carry out long-range surveillance and precision strikes without endangering its crewed aircraft or pilots, the drones will provide the country with a strategic advantage over its enemies.