The United States on Monday said it has been following reports alleging India”s involvement in targeted killings in Pakistan, underlining the importance of dialogue for resolution. Last week, India rejected the accusations, describing them as “false and malicious anti-India propaganda” following a report published by The Guardian, which cited Pakistani evidence.
Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, clarified that while the US would not interfere directly, it strongly encourages both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and seek peaceful solutions through dialogue.
“We have been following the media reports about this issue. We don”t have any comment on the underlying allegations. But of course, while we”re not going to get in the middle of this situation, we encourage both sides to avoid escalation and find a resolution through dialogue,” he said.
The Guardian”s report alleged that India”s intelligence agency RAW had carried out as many as 20 targeted assassinations since the Pulwama attack in 2019.
Drawing on evidence provided by Pakistan and insights from intelligence officials on both sides, the report suggested that New Delhi had adopted a policy of eliminating individuals perceived as threats to Indian interests.
The report quoted Pakistani officers who accused sleeper cells of the Indian intelligence established in the UAE of the killings. Drawing parallels with notorious intelligence agencies like Israel”s Mossad and Russia”s KGB, as well as the case of Jamal Khashoggi”s murder in 2018, the report raised concerns over extrajudicial actions conducted on foreign soil.
India swiftly refuted these allegations, with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar reaffirming that targeted killings abroad do not align with the Indian government”s policies. The denial from India”s foreign ministry was also highlighted in The Guardian”s report.