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 Sikh leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who hold dual US and Canadian citizenship, is a New York-based activist of Khalistan movement – the struggle for independent homeland for Sikhs by separating Punjab from India.
The Wire reported that 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. The report said that Washington has also held back smaller Indian acquisitions, including a proposal to buy six Boeing P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft. These are to supplement 12 P-8I Poseidon aircraft that the Indian Navy already operates.
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,” the Wire quoted a highly-placed source in Washington as having said.—Agencies
