India has summoned the top American diplomat at the US embassy in New Delhi to protest – for the third time – US spying efforts following new charges that its National Security Agency (NSA) targeted India’s ruling party.
The development on Wednesday came after a new document supplied by fugitive former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was made public by the Washington Post on Monday showing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party was among authorized targets for the US spy agency in 2010, when it was India’s main opposition.
“What we have said is that we expect a response and an assurance that this won’t happen again,” said an unnamed Indian Foreign Ministry source, who spoke to the AFP on condition of anonymity.
New Delhi has complained to Washington on two other occasions, in July and November 2013, over other revelations, including the disclosure that its UN mission in New York and its Washington embassy were under surveillance.
On both occasions, said the source, Washington said it would look into what it can share about its espionage program but failed to offer any details.
“We have said that we would like a response, which we haven’t received,” he said.
The latest incident comes ahead of a visit to New Delhi by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is expected to meet members of Modi’s government in the next few months.
Meanwhile, Modi is scheduled to travel to the US in September for the United Nations General Assembly and his first meeting with President Barack Obama.