Modi, Trump Send Out a Strong Message to Khalistanis, Pakistan

US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have pledged to strengthen law-enforcement cooperation and take "decisive action" against elements threatening public and diplomatic safety and security, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations, a joint statement said on Friday.

While responding to a question on activities of pro-Khalistan separatists in the US, the nation's president told a joint press conference with PM Modi that his administration would work with India to combat criminal activities.

Further, Trump said that the US could carry out more extraditions to India in the future, after he announced the extradition of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks plotter Tahawwur Rana.

"We are giving a very violent man [Rana] it seems. We are giving him back to India immediately. And there are more to follow because we have got quite a few requests. So, we work with India on crime and we want to make good for India, it is important. The relationship is very important to us," the US President said.

He also criticised the previous Joe Biden administration for not maintaining a "good relationship" with India, seen in the context of allegations blaming top Indian officials for a failed assassination plot against designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the counsel of banned separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

"I don't think India had a very good relationship with the Biden administration. A lot of things happened which weren't appropriate between India and the Biden administration," The Us President highlighted.

In a briefing to journalists on the Modi-Trump talks, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that India has more extradition requests pending with the US. While he refrained from disclosing specific names, he mentioned that additional applications have been officially submitted to US authorities.

Overall, India has made 65 requests for extradition of "fugitive criminals" to the US, which were as of December 2024 "under consideration" by American authorities, according to a parliamentary reply furnished by India's Home Ministry last year.

During a visit to Washington last December before Trump's swearing-in, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised that India expected "accountability" for the attacks on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco by Khalistan supporters in March and July 2023. Jaishankar labelled the actions as a "very serious matter."

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) subsequently released pictures of 10 men involved in the vandalism incident, with conversations between NIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) focussing on prosecution of those involved.

Significantly, the India-US joint statement also appealed to Pakistan for security measures on "cross-border terrorism".

"The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks," it said.

At the joint presser, the US president said that he would work with India "like never before" to "confront the threat of radical Islamic terrorism".

For his part, Modi underscored that both India and US "have stood firmly in the fight against terrorism". He emphasised that "concerted action is necessary to eradicate cross-border terrorism."

"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," Modi told the presser at the White House.

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