A huge drone purchase agreement has been signed between India and America.
But America took a long time to approve this purchase. The reason for this is being attributed to Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.
The US on Thursday approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B armed drones to India at an estimated cost of USD 3.99 billion.
This will enhance India’s capability to deal with present and future threats through unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrolling of sea lanes.
This drone deal was announced during the historic state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2023. But meanwhile, the case of alleged conspiracy to murder Pannu came to light.
After this, America’s influential MP Ben Cardin put obstacles in this deal. However, now he has withdrawn his objection.
MP Ben Cardin has said that he withdrew his objection to the US $ 3.99 billion drone deal with India after months-long negotiations with the country’s President Joe Biden’s administration.
He said the Biden administration assured him that India is committed to investigating the alleged plot to kill a Khalistani separatist on American soil and following this assurance, Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, approved the deal. Withdrawn their objections.
Democratic leader Cardin said in a statement that he approved the deal only after the Biden administration assured him that the Indian government and the US Justice Department would conduct a thorough investigation of India’s alleged links into the foiled plot to assassinate separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu. Committed to fully cooperating in the investigation.