The government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate         This representational picture shows the White House in Washington DC, US. — AFP/File

WASHINGTON: The White House said Monday (April 29) it was taking ‘very seriously’ the reports from the Washington Post on an alleged assassination plot by Indian officials on U.S. soil.

During Monday’s briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Department of Justice is investigating the matter. “There’s an investigation, as you know, going going on. So as you just stated in your question to me, and a criminal investigation, the Department of Justice obviously is running that. So anything specific to that, I would have to refer you to the DOJ. Look, India is an important strategic partner here in the United States.

For the, sorry, of the United States. So we are pursuing an ambitious agenda to expand our cooperation and some in several areas. As you know, we’ve been really consistent about that and have laid that out multiple times. Whether it’s a meeting here with with the prime minister or a meeting abroad.

This is a serious matter, and we’re taking that very, very seriously. The government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate. And we expect that that accountability from the government based on that.”

According to reports from the Washington Post, citing current and former U.S. and Indian security officials, intelligence officers from India were targeting Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen and critic of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.