The USA will impose sanctions on India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) stemming from recent recommendations by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In its 2025 Annual Report, released on March 25, 2025, the USCIRF urged the U.S. government to impose “targeted sanctions” on individuals and entities, specifically naming Vikash Yadav and RAW for their alleged involvement in severe violations of religious freedom. This recommendation is linked to accusations of RAW’s role in a foiled plot to assassinate Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on U.S. soil in 2023, as well as broader claims of deteriorating religious freedom conditions in India.
India has firmly rejected these claims. On March 26, 2025, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the USCIRF report as “biased and politically motivated,” accusing it of misrepresenting facts and pursuing a deliberate agenda against India’s multicultural society. The MEA, through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, went further, suggesting that the USCIRF itself should be designated an “entity of concern” for its repeated attempts to undermine India’s democratic reputation. India asserts that its 1.4 billion people live in a pluralistic framework where diverse communities coexist harmoniously, a reality that the USCIRF ignores.
As reflected in posts on X, public sentiment aligns with India’s official stance—many users express defiance, warning of potential counter-sanctions against U.S. agencies like the CIA if the U.S. proceeds. However, whether the U.S. will impose sanctions remains uncertain. The USCIRF is an advisory body, not a decision-making authority, and its recommendations are not binding. Historically, the U.S. government has not always acted on USCIRF suggestions, especially when geopolitical interests are at stake. Given the strategic partnership between the U.S. and India—particularly as a counterbalance to China in Asia—analysts suggest that sanctions on RAW are unlikely in the near term.
