A senior US official has discussed with his Indian counterparts a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US soil. This came after New Delhi set up a high-level panel to investigate the case.

Prosecutors in the United States say an Indian government official directed the alleged assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. He heads an organization that advocates the secession of a state in northern India.

White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer led a US delegation to New Delhi on Monday where he held meetings on the US-India strategic partnership.

In the talks, he touched on the unsuccessful murder attempt. The White House said in a statement that Finer acknowledged the importance of holding accountable those found responsible.

Last week, India's foreign ministry expressed grave concern over the case and stressed that a high-level enquiry committee had been established.

As the US places strategic importance on ties with India to counter China, attention is focused on how the situation might develop.

The allegation follows a similar case in Canada in which a Sikh separatist leader was murdered in June. Ottawa also pointed to the involvement of the Indian government, something that has soured relations between the two countries.