Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the close cooperation between India and the United States in the fight against terrorism and pointed out that the two countries share the view that sustained action is required in order to eradicate cross-border terrorism. Speaking at a joint press conference with then-US President Donald Trump, PM Modi expressed gratitude for the United States’ decision to extradite Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, to India for prosecution.
Cross-border terrorism, including terrorism from Pakistan, has always been a problem faced by India. PM Modi also reiterated India’s joint action against terrorism in partnership with the US, saying, “We and the United States have been standing shoulder to shoulder in the fight against terrorism. We also concur that a collaborative effort is required toward the elimination of terrorism across borders.
Highlighting the significance of Rana’s extradition, he said, “I am thankful to the President that he has decided to hand over the culprit who committed the killings in India in 2008, to India now. Indian courts will now take appropriate action.”
Joint Statement on Terrorism
After bilateral discussions, a joint statement released by both leaders, requested that Pakistan should act expeditiously in delivering justice to the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks and should prevent the use of Pakistan’s territory as a launching board for cross-border terrorism.
The statement further highlighted the importance of concerted action in combating terrorist organisations operating from Pakistan, like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating global terrorism and eliminating safe havens for terrorist organizations.
The statement read: “They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups, including Al-Qa’ida, ISIS, Jaish-e Mohammad, and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, in order to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.”
Having come to a mutual agreement on the issue of bringing terrorists to justice, the US has formally agreed to the extraditian of Tahawwur Rana to India. The involvement of Hattey in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks has for years been a focal point of India’s counter-terrorism operations and his transfer of responsibilities has been viewed as an important diplomatic breakthrough.
Commitment to Energy Security and Nuclear Cooperation
Along with discussions in terrorism, PM Modi and President Trump reasserted their commitment to enhance energy security and nuclear relations. Both of the leaders stated their commitment to the full application of the US-India 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement, including the sharing of plans to work together on the construction of US-designed reactors in India.
The joint statement noted, “Both sides welcomed the recent Budget announcement by the Government of India to take up amendments to the Atomic Energy Act and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA) for nuclear reactors, and further decided to establish bilateral arrangements in accordance with CLNDA, that would address the issue of civil liability and facilitate the collaboration of Indian and US industry in the production and deployment of nuclear reactors.”.
This collaboration is anticipated to lead to the design of next generation small modular nuclear reactors and the deployment of nuclear technology in India on a large scale.
People-to-People Ties and Academic Collaboration
The exchanges between the Prime Minister Modi and President Trump also covered the role of people-to-people relations and academic cooperation between the two countries. Leaders recognized the role of more than 300k Indian students in the United States who, combined, provide over USD 8 billion per year to the United States economy and create thousands of business jobs directly and indirectly.
Acknowledging the value of educational exchange programs, both leaders pledged to create mechanisms for strengthening partnerships between universities. “Recognizing the importance of international academic collaborations in fostering innovation, improving learning outcomes, and developing a future-ready workforce, both leaders resolved to strengthen collaborations between the higher education institutions through efforts such as joint/dual degree and twinning programs, establishing joint Centers of Excellence, and setting up offshore campuses of premier educational institutions of the United States in India,” the statement added.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
The session metining between the Indian Prime Minister Modi and the US President Trump highlighted the changing nature of bilateral relationship between India and the US, encompassing security, energy, and education sectors. The commitment to tackling terrorism together, enhancing nuclear cooperation, and fostering educational ties reflects the growing strategic alignment between the two nations. Far from being a test of India-US partnership, the case of Tahawwur Rana illustrates how US and its allies are unified with other countries in the fight against terrorism, and the continuing efforts in energy and education are indicative of a successful future for US-India partnership.
Since two countries are going on deepening cooperation, the above agreements are a major step towards strengthening diplomatic relations, and further promote mutual benefits between the two countries on the international scene.
