'PM Modi's visit set joint vision, we're committed to defeat Islamist terror': Tulsi Gabbard on India-US ties

US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit last month helped set the joint vision for the future of India-US relationship.

Gabbard is on a visit to India to attend a series of security-related meetings and hold talks with senior Indian leaders. She attended a meeting of intelligence chiefs of several countries, including India, the United States, Australia, and Germany, on Sunday, and held talks with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. She is also scheduled to attend Raisina Dialogue on Tuesday.

In an interview with ANI, Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) highlighted the shared challenge from Islamist terrorism and said that US President Donald Trump is committed against it.

Gabbard also spoke about her Hindu faith, the scope of the India-US ties, and the challenge from China.

‘I see nothing but opportunity in India-US relationship’

Speaking about the rapport between Trump and Modi, Gabbard said that the two leaders are “good friends” and their meeting last month “was a very great opportunity for them to share their joint vision for the US-India partnership and the opportunity for us to continue to strengthen that partnership”.

Last month, Modi visited the United States to hold talks with Trump and senior US officials, including Gabbard. He was among the first leaders to meet Trump in his second term.

Gabbard further said, “The meetings that I’ve had here with different Indian government officials and intelligence officials really is set on that foundation of how we can continue to integrate, how we can continue to strengthen our relationship, not only of course in my area of intelligence, but we’re looking at commerce and trade and defense and education. There’s nothing but opportunity that I see here in the US-India partnership.”

On the question of China, Gabbard said that Trump and Modi are “very practical and pragmatic and are looking to strike that balance that will allow us to prevent any conflict”.

“The goal we all share is to achieve peace and ensure stability,” said Gabbard.

Gabbard on Islamist terrorism

In response to a question on Pakistan-based terrorism, Gabbard said that Trump “has been very clear about his commitment to defeating this threat of Islamist terrorism that has plagued us” from his first term (2017-21). She called India, Bangladesh, Syria, and Israel as being victims of Islamist terrorism.

“This is a threat that PM Modi also takes seriously and one where leaders of our two countries will work together to identify and defeat that threat,” said Gabbard.

Regarding her faith, Gabbard said, “Whether serving in war zones in different parts of the world or the challenges that we face now, it is (Lord) Krishna’s teachings to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita that I turn to in the best of times and the worst of times…”

Gabbard was the first Hindu member of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the US Congress.

While Gabbard appreciated the relationship between the Modi and Trump administrations, sources told ANI that Defence Minister Singh raised the issue of anti-India activities by Khalistani organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the United States.