'Good And Appropriate, Look Forward To Seeing Results': Blinken On India's Probe Into Alleged Plot To Kill Khalistani Terrorist Pannun

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday commended the decision by New Delhi to launch an investigation into US allegations of an Indian official's involvement in a thwarted assassination attempt on a Khalistani terrorist in the United States.

Blinken, who was in Israel's capital, Tel Aviv, said, "The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that's good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results".

Blinken's response came in light of a query about an anonymous Indian official featured in an indictment filed by federal US prosecutors in a Manhattan court on Wednesday along with an Indian national, who the Department of Justice alleges hired someone in the US to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

"This is an ongoing legal matter. So you'll understand I can't comment on it in detail. I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian Government in past weeks," Blinken said.

Earlier, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the White House, echoed Blinken's comments. However, he softened his statement by emphasising the significance of the two countries' bilateral relationship.

During a press conference, Kirby said, “India remains a strategic partner, and we are going to continue to work to improve and strengthen that strategic partnership with India. At the same time, we take this very seriously. These allegations and this investigation, we take very seriously".