US principal deputy NSA Jonathan Finer engages in talks with Jaishankar and Doval
Washington, December 04: In a backdrop of accusations linking India to an alleged plot targeting a Sikh leader on American soil, US Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer engaged in discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Monday.
This marked the first openly acknowledged interaction between a senior US security official and Indian leadership following recent US prosecutors' claims. They alleged an Indian connection involving Nikhil Gupta, purportedly collaborating in a thwarted scheme to assassinate Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Finer's visit to New Delhi involved consultations with Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Affairs within the National Security Council Secretariat. The Ministry of External Affairs described these consultations as a follow-up to US NSA Jake Sullivan's visit to India in June and Doval's trip to the US in January. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar shared about his meeting with the American official on X, mentioning a productive discussion on the global scenario, though specifics weren’t disclosed.
During these discussions, Misri and Finer delved into key bilateral matters, exchanged perspectives on regional and global developments, and reviewed the India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).
They reviewed progress under iCET, which focuses on various tech domains like semiconductors, AI, quantum computing, defence innovation, and more. Both officials expressed contentment with ongoing collaborations and explored potential expansions, adding biotechnology and digital connectivity into the scope.
This initiative, jointly led by India's National Security Council Secretariat and the US National Security Council, aligns with PM Modi and President Biden's vision for enhancing bilateral strategic partnerships. It aims to harness synergies between domestic initiatives and enhance industry competitiveness in both nations.
Apart from meeting foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra, Finer also participated in the Global Technology Summit in New Delhi. India has initiated a high-level inquiry to investigate allegations surrounding Pannun's purported assassination plot, emphasizing follow-up actions based on the inquiry committee's findings.
- With inputs from agencies
