"India, US commit to tackling illegal immigration, human trafficking": Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

Addressing a press briefing on Thursday (local time), Misri said that both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to streamlining legal mobility avenues for students, professionals, and short-term visitors, while also agreeing to "aggressively" address illegal immigration and human trafficking.

"India invited the US to take advantage of the reforms in the Indian education sector to set up offshore campuses of premier institutions of the US in India. They committed to streamlining avenues for the legal mobility of students and professionals and facilitating short-term tourist and business travel while also committing to aggressively addressing and tackling illegal immigration and human trafficking," Misri said.

"There is a commitment from both sides to take decisive action against elements that threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations. There is a commitment to strengthen law enforcement in this regard, especially significant from our perspective given some events that have taken place," he added.

Misri's statements come amid the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals from the US. A US Air Force plane carrying deportees arrived in Punjab's Amritsar on February 5. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that it is the obligation of all nations to take back their nationals if they are found to be residing there illegally and said that the Indian government is engaging the US government to ensure that the deportees are not mistreated in any manner.

Providing an overview of PM Modi's visit, Foreign Secretary Misri noted that the Prime Minister held discussions with notable figures, including newly confirmed US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, as well as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

The extensive four-hour talks at the White House between PM Modi and President Trump covered strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade, economic engagement, technology, energy security, and regional and global concerns.

"The PM just concluded a very substantive and productive visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. This is the Prime Minister's first visit to the United States after the inauguration of President Trump for a second term. This visit is a signal of the priority that both leaders attach to the India-US relationship. The newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, paid a call to the PM. The PM received Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy," Misri said.

"The discussions at the White House went on for four hours. The discussions covered a lot of ground. The entire gamut of the relationship, ranging from strategic and security cooperation, defence, trade and economic engagement, technology, energy security and people-to-people linkages, regional and global issues of concerns were dealt with," Misri added.

PM Modi and US President Trump shared a hug as the latter welcomed the former at the White House on Thursday (local time).

Trump said that he, PM Modi, and the two nations have "great unity and great friendship." He called it "important" to remain united as nations.

During his meeting with PM Modi on Thursday (local time), Trump stressed that the ties between the two nations are going to get closer.

PM Modi told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that he is delighted to see him back at the White House for a second term and expressed confidence that the two countries will continue to advance India-US strategic partnership with the "same bond, trust and excitement."

In his remarks, PM Modi said the people of India had also given him the opportunity to serve them for a third successive term, and this has happened after 60 years in the country's history.

This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to the United States since President Donald Trump's inauguration of the second presidential term last month.

PM Modi is among the first few world leaders to visit the United States following the inauguration of President Trump and has been invited to visit the US within barely three weeks of the new administration. (ANI)