Targeted killings: US urges India, Pakistan to pursue dialogue amidst rising tensions
Washington DC, April 9: The United States has called for de-escalation and dialogue between India and Pakistan amidst recent allegations of targeted killing levelled by Pakistan against India. US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said while the US would not interfere in the situation, it encouraged both countries to refrain from escalating tensions and instead resolve their differences through diplomatic means.
Responding to inquiries regarding allegations made by Pakistani officials, Matthew Miller refrained from commenting on the specific accusations, but stressed the need for dialogue to address any disputes. He made these remarks during a press briefing when asked about the US position on a recent report in 'The Guardian' newspaper.
"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.
#WATCH | On being asked about the United States' position on Pakistan's allegations against India about carrying out state killings in Pakistan, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller says, "So we have been following the media reports about this issue. We don't have any… pic.twitter.com/vwaKjkvK0Q — ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2024
The US statement follows a pattern of similar dismissals by India in the past. In January, Pakistan's attempt to link India with the deaths of two Pakistani nationals was swiftly rejected by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denounced the allegations as "false and malicious anti-India propaganda," emphasising Pakistan's history of terrorism and illegal activities.
Jaiswal's remarks came after Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi claimed to have "credible evidence" of Indian involvement in the assassinations of Shahid Latif and Muhammad Riaz in Sialkot and Rawalkot respectively. However, Indian officials have consistently refuted such claims, maintaining that Pakistan's accusations are baseless.
In a similar vein, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier criticised Pakistan's rhetoric on terrorism. He said victims of terrorism could not engage in dialogue with its perpetrators and called out Pakistan for its hypocritical stance.
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According to 'The Guardian's' report, the Indian intelligence agency RAW has allegedly conducted around 20 assassinations since the Pulwama attack in 2019. The report, based on evidence provided by Pakistan and interviews with intelligence officials from both countries, suggests that "New Delhi has adopted a policy of targeting individuals deemed hostile to India".
The report mentions Pakistani officers accusing sleeper cells of the Indian intelligence operating in the UAE of carrying out these assassinations. It also cites an unnamed Indian official who purportedly stated that India drew inspiration from intelligence agencies like Israel's Mossad and Russia's KGB, which have been linked to extrajudicial killings abroad, as well as the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
India has refuted these allegations, with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar stating that targeted killings in other countries are not part of the Indian government's policy. The denial by the Indian foreign ministry was also highlighted in The Guardian's report.
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