India has raised concerns with Washington about the anti-India activities conducted in the United States by the banned Khalistani organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

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The issue was discussed during a meeting between Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday (Mar 17), news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

Expressing its concerns, New Delhi called on the US Director of National Intelligence to take strict action against the unlawful organisation.

Singh met with Gabbard in New Delhi on Monday, marking a significant step in strengthening India-US defence ties. Their bilateral meeting focused on crucial aspects of defence cooperation and intelligence sharing between the two nations.

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Sharing details about the meeting, Singh took to his official X handle and said, "Happy to have met the US Director of National Intelligence Ms Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues which include defence and information sharing, aiming to further deepen the India-US partnership."

Earlier on Sunday, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval held bilateral talks with Gabbard, where the two reportedly discussed several facets of the India-US relationship in detail.

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Gabbard on US-India tariff issue

Gabbard, on Monday, said that a direct dialogue has been ongoing between India and the US at the very top over the tariffs issue. 

The US Director of National Intelligence is currently on a two-and-a-half-day trip to India as part of a multi-nation visit and arrived in the national capital early Sunday (Mar 16).

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the think tank Observer Research Foundation’s annual multilateral conference Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Gabbard talked about the economic relationship between the two nations, saying there was an opportunity to strengthen them.

“What I have heard from the Indian government officials that I’ve spoken to over the last few days, there is an opportunity here to see,” she said.

“There is more potential for strengthening our economic relationship, and I’m glad to see that they’re looking at it in a more positive light than just one that is focused in a negative way when we look at tariffs,” she added.

She further said, “Prime Minister Modi is looking out for what is in the best interest of India’s economy and the opportunities available to the people of India. Similarly, President Trump is doing the same for the United States, our economic interests, and the interests of the American people.”

(With inputs from agencies)