PM Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard Forge Stronger India-US Ties Amid Khalistani Terror Concerns

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard, the United States’ Director of National Intelligence, on Monday evening in Delhi. The high-profile meeting followed Gabbard’s earlier discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during which Singh called for decisive action against the Khalistani terror group Sikhs For Justice and its founder, Gurpatwant Pannun.

During their encounter, the two exchanged tokens of goodwill Modi gifted Gabbard a vase containing sacred Ganga water from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, a city renowned for hosting the Maha Kumbh. This meeting marks Gabbard’s second encounter with the Prime Minister in just two months; the previous meeting took place in February when Modi was in Washington, D.C. for a bilateral session with President Donald Trump.

The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation on pressing issues such as terrorism and cybersecurity, with both leaders emphasizing the need to chart a robust vision for an even stronger India-US partnership. Prior to meeting Modi, Gabbard held talks with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on a range of topics—including intelligence-sharing—to further cement ties between the two nations. She subsequently met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, with both Singh and Doval reportedly raising concerns over Khalistani terrorism, particularly pointing to anti-India elements reportedly operating from American soil.

Earlier today, Gabbard gave an interview to media, addressing issues from the camaraderie between Trump and Modi to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and threats from Houthi groups. On Tuesday, she is scheduled to speak at the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier multinational forum on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually since 2016.

Gabbard’s visit to India forms part of a broader multi-nation Indo-Pacific tour that also includes stops in Japan and Thailand. The trip is aimed at fostering stronger relationships and open lines of communication, aligning with President Trump’s vision of peace, freedom, and prosperity. Appointed as the US’ top intelligence chief last month, Gabbard now oversees 18 American intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and NSA, managing a budget of nearly $100 billion.