U.S. Allegedly Planned Arrest of India's Former R&AW Chief Samant Goel: Diplomatic Tensions Over Khalistani Plot

A recent report has revealed a troubling development between the United States and India. According to The Sunday Guardian, U.S. intelligence agencies, including the FBI and CIA, had reportedly been preparing to arrest a former official from India’s premier intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). The arrest was to occur during a private family trip to the U.S., but the operation was suddenly abandoned after Indian intelligence caught wind of the plan, leading to the cancellation of the trip.

Although the report does not officially confirm the identity of the former R&AW official, speculations strongly point toward Samant Goel, the agency’s chief until 2023. Goel, who has had a long and distinguished career in India’s intelligence apparatus, is known for his instrumental role in counterterrorism operations, particularly against separatist movements such as the Khalistan issue. His alleged connection to a controversial plot targeting Khalistani terrorist facilitator Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has intensified speculation around the U.S. move.

Pannun, a notorious figure in India, is the head of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), an organization banned in India but operating relatively freely in other countries, including the U.S. He is one of India’s most-wanted individuals for his role in spreading pro-Khalistan sentiment and advocating for violent separatism. While India considers Pannun a terrorist, the U.S. has provided him with a platform under its legal protections, which has often been a source of contention between the two nations. It appears that Goel’s name became tied to an alleged assassination plot against Pannun, prompting the U.S. to consider taking drastic measures by arresting the former intelligence officer.

The alleged operation to arrest Goel echoes past diplomatic tensions between India and the U.S., most notably the 2013 arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York. Khobragade’s arrest on charges of visa fraud and mistreatment of a domestic worker caused a major diplomatic row, with India accusing the U.S. of disrespecting diplomatic immunity and humiliating her. The fallout saw India reducing U.S. diplomatic privileges and a wave of public anger. Had the U.S. gone ahead with the arrest of someone like Goel, the implications could have been even more severe, potentially leading to a much deeper diplomatic rupture.

Tensions over Khalistani activism have been escalating in recent years, particularly with the rise of online propaganda and the growing influence of the diaspora. India has repeatedly expressed its frustration with countries like the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. for not doing enough to clamp down on these separatist elements. To India, these movements are not just about political activism but are tied to a legacy of violence and terrorism that has long plagued the country. From New Delhi's perspective, any attempt by the U.S. to act against someone like Goel, who has been central to India's fight against such elements, would be seen as a betrayal.

The reported tip-off that led to the scrapping of Goel’s travel plans is yet another example of how sensitive intelligence operations can influence international relations. India’s intelligence agencies are known to work closely with counterparts in the U.S., but this incident suggests there is also mistrust simmering beneath the surface. The cancellation of the planned arrest saved what could have been an extremely volatile situation, but it also raises questions about how the two countries perceive and handle the threats posed by Khalistani separatism.

This incident comes at a time when U.S.-India relations have otherwise been strengthening, particularly with defense and strategic partnerships growing. However, incidents like these remind both nations that there are still unresolved tensions, particularly when it comes to issues of national security and intelligence operations.

The growing activism of Khalistani sympathizers in the West remains a thorny issue for India, and this latest episode involving Samant Goel suggests that tensions may continue to simmer beneath the surface. While the U.S. and India may be aligned on many global issues, cases like this show how intelligence operations and the differing priorities of national interests can bring even close partners to the brink of diplomatic crises. 

In the coming months, it will be important to see how both nations handle such sensitive matters, particularly as both sides will need to balance their interests while avoiding the kind of fallout that was seen in the Khobragade case. If not carefully managed, this issue could complicate U.S.-India relations at a time when both countries are looking to strengthen their strategic and security ties.