US Urges India and Pakistan to Pursue Dialogue Amid Allegations of Targeted Killings

The United States announced on Monday that it has been monitoring reports alleging India’s involvement in targeted killings in Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of dialogue for resolving the issue. This comes after India rejected the accusations, labeling them as “false and malicious anti-India propaganda” following a report in the UK daily, The Guardian, citing Pakistani evidence.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that while his government refrains from intervening in the matter, it urges both countries to prevent escalation and seek resolution through peaceful dialogue. He emphasized, “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.”

The Guardian’s report alleged that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, had orchestrated up to 20 assassinations since the Pulwama attack in 2019. Citing evidence from Pakistan and interviews with intelligence officials from both countries, the report claimed that Delhi had adopted a policy of targeting individuals considered hostile to India. Pakistani officers also accused Indian sleeper cells, allegedly established in the UAE, of carrying out the killings.

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Moreover, the report referenced an unnamed Indian official who purportedly drew inspiration from intelligence agencies such as Israel’s Mossad and Russia’s KGB, known for extrajudicial killings abroad. It also mentioned the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

India refuted the allegations, with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar asserting that targeted killings in other countries were not part of India’s governmental policy. The denial from India’s foreign ministry was highlighted in the report.