US Panel Recommends Sanctions on India’s RAW Over Alleged Sikh Separatist Assassination Plots

The USCIRF calls for India to be designated a 'country of particular concern' citing deteriorating religious freedom and alleged targeting of Sikh separatists, but sanctions remain unlikely.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended sanctions against India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for alleged involvement in assassination plots targeting Sikh separatists.
The annual report also urges the U.S. government to designate India as a 'country of particular concern' due to worsening religious freedom conditions and rising discrimination against minorities.
India has consistently denied involvement in assassination plots and rejected the USCIRF's allegations as biased and politically motivated.
Analysts suggest the U.S. is unlikely to impose sanctions on RAW, given India’s strategic importance as a counterbalance to China’s influence in Asia.
The report also accuses Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of promoting anti-minority rhetoric during the 2024 election campaign, further straining U.S.-India relations.