Pakistan was put on notice by the US and India who called for rooting out terrorists' safe havens and to fight groups, including Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and D-company, even as the two countries decided to broaden their strategic, defence and economic relationship.
The new direction in the bilateral relationship came during the summit meeting on Monday night between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump who met for the first time six months after the host's election to the top office.
However, the joint statement makes no reference to the H1B visa issues on which India has serious concerns, and the Paris accord on climate change on which Trump made critical remarks on India and China.
The two leaders also told Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used for terror attacks on other countries and asked it to bring to justice terrorists blamed for attacks in Mumbai and other places in India.
"The leaders stressed that terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought and terrorist safe havens rooted out in every part of the world. They resolved that India and the US will fight together against this grave challenge to humanity.
"They committed to strengthen cooperation against terrorist threats from groups including Al Qaeda, ISIS, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), D-Company and their affiliates," said the joint statement issued after their meeting.
India appreciated the US designating the Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist -- just ahead of the Trump-Modi meet of Monday -- "as evidence of the commitment of the US to end terror in all its forms".
The statement specifically referred to the terror attacks in Mumbai (2008) and Pathankot (2016) that it said were perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups and said the terrorists must be expeditiously brought to justice.
The LeT was blamed for the Mumbai mayhem of November 2008 that killed 166 Indians and foreigners including Americans. The Jaish was accused of attacking the Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab, leaving seven security personnel dead.
Thank you @POTUS and @FLOTUS for a most memorable visit to the @WhiteHouse. pic.twitter.com/FZbhNH4wbH
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 27, 2017
Also, in their joint remarks to the media after delegation level talks, both Modi and Trump spoke of their commitment to combat terrorism.
Modi said battling terror and destroying terrorist hideouts would be an important part of mutual cooperation.
"We will enhance the intelligence exchange to boost coordination to address our common concerns over terrorism and will deepen our policy coordination accordingly."
Modi said the two countries had agreed to increase cooperation to tackle increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism.
During our talks, @POTUS and I discussed the menace of terrorism as well as the need to uproot all forms of terrorism. pic.twitter.com/9fxQRSKQAv
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2017
Trump said both India and the US had been struck by terrorism, "and we are both determined to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them.
"We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism," he said.
"Our militaries are working every day to enhance cooperation between our military forces. And next month, they will join together with the Japanese navy to take place in the largest maritime exercise ever conducted in the vast Indian Ocean."
Answering questions later, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said the US move to declare Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist had sent a clear signal.
Welcome to the @WhiteHouse Prime Minister Modi! pic.twitter.com/JEAgtlUQcw
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) June 26, 2017
"You should take the step for what it is. It is in a sense fixing responsibility, highlighting a problem.
"There is a context to it... It is focusing on a particular group and a particular individual... I think none of us can really miss that message."
The Foreign Secretary said there was a broad discussion on Pakistan. It was also extensive and very detailed on certain issues.
"We had very much converging viewpoint of what is the problem, let us diagnose the problem. And it is not just the Indian situation... A lot of discussion related to what was happening in Afghanistan."
On economic cooperation, the two countries said they plan to undertake a comprehensive review of trade relations to expedite regulatory processes and increase market access in areas such as agriculture, information technology and manufactured goods and services.
They also resolved to pursue increased commercial engagement in a manner that advances the principles of free and fair trade.
"Prime Minister Modi and President Trump looked forward to conclusion of contractual agreements between Westinghouse Electric Company and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India for six nuclear reactors in India and also related project financing," the statement said.
Against the backdrop of Trump's remarks against India and China regarding the Paris climate change agreement, the statement said the two leaders called for a rational approach that balances environment and climate policy, global economic development and energy security needs.
My op-ed in the @WSJ on close India-USA relations and their strong potential. https://t.co/griO7EkwCu
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2017
The US cleared the sale of Guardian drones to India with the two countries pledging to deepen their defence and security cooperation.
The statement said that the two countries look forward to working together on advanced defence equipment and technology "at a level commensurate with that of the closest allies and partners of the United States."
"Reflecting the partnership, the United States has offered for India's consideration the sale of Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems, which would enhance India's capabilities and promote shared security interests," it said.
The United States expressed strong support for India's early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group.
It also reaffirmed the support of the United States for India's permanent membership of a reformed U.N. Security Council.
Thank you, Prime Minister Modi, for inviting me to lead the U.S. delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India this fall. pic.twitter.com/ZNwmTTnGYD
— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) June 27, 2017
Modi-Trump Meet: How INTERNET Reacted To Pm Modi's Bear Hug
Who will win? Trump's never ending vigorous handshake or Modi's tight hug?
— Saranga (@sarangasays) June 24, 2017
Here are few of the funniest tweets accompanying the hash tag ‘#ModiTrumpMeet’:
1 Modi's car arrives
— Nishchay Luthra (@GabbbarSingh) June 26, 2017
2. Guard salutes
3. Goes to open the door for Mrs Modi
4. NO Mrs Modi 😢😢😢 pic.twitter.com/fOCugaAdS7
Kitna haseen chehra, kitni pyari aankhen. pic.twitter.com/1wJt8oSJY7
— Ivan Mehta (@IndianIdle) June 27, 2017
"Bhai thanks tune pass karwa diya exam mein" pic.twitter.com/m37VaAEVeV
— Nishchay Luthra (@HaramiParindey) June 27, 2017
Conversations during #ModiTrumpMeet pic.twitter.com/0NQItOgF1q
— Nishchay Luthra (@Madan_Chikna) June 27, 2017
Baniye ka dimaag aur Miyaan bhai ki daring.... #ModiTrumpMeet pic.twitter.com/bhN1tRlVsG
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) June 27, 2017
Find you someone who will hug you like Indian PM Modi just hugged President Trump pic.twitter.com/fg7ABaA8OS
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) June 26, 2017
Modi: Mere desh mein Opposition ko laga tha ki main Election haar jaunga.
— Chicken Biryanii (@ChickenBiryanii) June 26, 2017
Trump: Mere bhi.
Modi: Lol😂
Trump: ROFL 😂😂#ModiTrumpMeet pic.twitter.com/lq4G7YzD7K
DON'T FALL INTO US TRAP AND SUFFER, CHINESE WRITER TELLS INDIA
India will suffer "catastrophic results" if it become a pawn in US attempts to counter China, a Chinese commentator has said.
"If India regresses from its non-alignment stance and becomes a pawn for the US in countering China, it will be caught up in a strategic dilemma and new geopolitical frictions will be triggered in South Asia," warned a commentary in the state-run Global Times daily.
The warning came as US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Washington in their first face-to-face encounter and jointly called on Pakistan not to let terrorists use its territory against other countries.
The write-up quoted US think tank Atlantic Council as saying in a policy paper that Washington would need New Delhi to counter Beijing's growing influence in the world.
The commentary said being a "key piece in the jigsaw for the US" was nothing to be proud of. "Instead, it is more likely a trap that deserves India's vigilance.
"Washington's pursuit of closer ties with New Delhi is mainly driven by its strategic need to utilize India as a tool to counterbalance China.
"Washington and New Delhi share anxieties about China's rise. In recent years, to ratchet up geopolitical pressure on China, the US has cozied up to India.
"But India is not a US ally like Japan or Australia. To assume a role as an outpost country in the US strategy to contain China is not in line with India's interests. It could even lead to catastrophic results," it said.
The commentary suggested that it would be helpful for New Delhi to realize its big power ambitions if it can "firmly stand together with China ... in striving for more discourse power".
It pointed out that in the 1950s and the 1960s, both the Soviet Union and the US wanted to play the India card to check China. But the policy failed.
"New Delhi should avoid being roped into a geopolitical trap," it said.
