New Delhi – US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard held a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital late on Monday night, following the latter formally bringing to the attention of Washington Khalistani terrorist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and its leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
India Calls on US to Act Against Khalistani Threat
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh previously interacted with Ms Gabbard and urged growing Indian concern on the activities of Khalistani extremists like SFJ, which New Delhi accuses of fomenting violence against India from abroad. Singh reaffirmed the call for counter-terrorism partnership and requested America to enhance actions against such militant groups.
Modi-Gabbard Meeting Calls for Counter-Terrorism, Bilateral Relationships
PM Modi invited Ms Gabbard to his private residence where the leaders both exchanged on the machinery of the India-US strategic alliance, such as sharing intelligence and countering terror. Both nations restated resolve to counter terror in all forms and enhance collaboration on cybersecurity.
Symbolic Exchange of Gifts
As a token of friendship, Prime Minister Modi presented Ms Gabbard with a traditional vase of holy Ganga water from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh – the city that is hosting Maha Kumbh Mela. The move was symbolic and in line with India’s cultural heritage. Its contours had the shared values of the two democracies.
Second High-Level Meeting in Two Months
This was the second meeting at high levels within a fortnight between PM Modi and Ms Gabbard. Earlier, the two leaders had the opportunity to bump into each other when Modi came to Washington, D.C. in February this year for meeting US President Donald Trump. Ahead of his visit, Ms Gabbard also met Modi on the occasion to step up cooperation on sophisticated international security matters and have a vision stronger for future India-US bilateral relations.
Before meeting the Prime Minister, Ms Gabbard also met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to talk about regional security trends, intelligence cooperation, and Indo-Pacific strategy.
Gabbard to Address Raisina Dialogue
Ms Gabbard will give a headline speech on Tuesday at the Raisina Dialogue — India’s flagship multilateral conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics — where she is likely to enunciate Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy and emphasize cooperation on future security challenges.
Indo-Pacific Tour and New Role as Intelligence Chief
Ms Gabbard is in India as part of a wider Indo-Pacific tour involving Japan and Thailand. The tour is intended to strengthen alliances and stability in the region, all part of Washington’s objectives for “peace, freedom, and prosperity” in the Trump administration.
Newly made the Director of National Intelligence, Ms Gabbard now spearheads the United States’ 18-agency-strong intelligence community including the CIA, FBI, and NSA on a budget that hits almost $100 billion in operational costs a year. Under her leadership, the US priorities abroad are projected to be formulated more decisively than ever. For in-depth coverage and the latest updates on political news, visit News Trendzs today!
