PM Modi Meets US Intel Chief Tulsi Gabbard, Discusses Khalistani Threat, Security Cooperation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tulsi Gabbard, the United States' Director of National Intelligence, in Delhi on Monday evening.

Their meeting followed her discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during which he urged action against the Khalistani terror group Sikhs For Justice and its founder, Gurpatwant Pannun.

Photo Credit: DPR PMO via PTI Photo

During their meeting, Modi and Gabbard exchanged gifts. The Prime Minister presented her with a vase containing Ganga water from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, the site of the Maha Kumbh.

This marks Gabbard's second meeting with Modi in two months, the previous one having taken place in February when the Prime Minister was in Washington, D.C. for a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump.

At that time, Modi and Gabbard discussed strengthening cooperation on counterterrorism and cybersecurity, aiming to "set the tone and vision for a stronger India-US partnership".

Prior to her meeting with the Prime Minister, Gabbard held discussions with Rajnath Singh on various matters, including intelligence-sharing, to further deepen the India-US partnership. She then met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

On Tuesday, Gabbard is scheduled to address the Raisina Dialogue-India's leading multinational forum on geopolitics and geoeconomics, which has been hosted by India since 2016.

Tulsi Gabbard is visiting India as part of a multi-nation Indo-Pacific tour, which includes stops in Japan and Thailand. The visit aims to "build strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication" to support Trump's objectives of 'peace, freedom, and prosperity'.

Gabbard was appointed as the US' top intelligence chief last month. In this role, she oversees 18 American intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and NSA, managing an annual budget of nearly $100 billion.

(With agency inputs)