Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, has been extradited to the United States and pleaded not guilty to charges related to an alleged murder-for-hire plot against Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The case has sparked diplomatic tensions and accusations of Indian government involvement, raising concerns about transnational terrorism and attempts to silence dissent.
Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu accepted an invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in India, despite recent diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Muizzu’s attendance follows a period of strain between India and the Maldives, marked by anti-Indian sentiments in the Maldivian cabinet and the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the country. The diplomatic row has led to a surge in Indian tourists opting for Sri Lanka over the Maldives, with Sri Lanka surpassing the Maldives in tourist arrivals for the first time in four years. Despite the tensions, the Maldives remains a popular destination for Indian tourists, with over 200,000 Indians visiting in 2023. Prime Minister Modi is expected to be sworn in on June 9th, with the ceremony attended by various regional leaders as part of India’s focus on its neighborhood and island nations in the Indian Ocean region.
India has withdrawn all of its military personnel from the Maldives, concluding a diplomatic standoff between the two countries. The last remaining Indian soldiers departed the island nation shortly before the May 10 deadline set by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu. The troop withdrawal was a key campaign pledge of Muizzu, who is considered to be pro-China. India had agreed to withdraw its troops in order to avoid escalating tensions. Meanwhile, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Maldivian counterpart, Moosa Zameer, to discuss bilateral relations and regional security. The Maldives is a strategically important neighbor for India in the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian envoy to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, has highlighted persistent issues between the two nations, attributed to recent criminal incidents. He emphasized that India’s destiny should be shaped by its citizens, not external influences. The arrests of three Indian nationals in connection with the assassination of a Canadian Sikh leader have reignited tensions, with Verma expressing concerns about threats originating from Canada. Despite the challenges, he believes diplomatic discussions are ongoing, and both countries should prioritize understanding and respecting cultural differences.
