World Is One News, WION exclusively speaks to Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the United States of America.

WION exclusive conversation with Indian envoy to US  Taranjit Singh Sandhu

World Is One News, WION exclusively speaks to Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to United States of America.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian envoy to US Exclusively speaks to WION

India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that India will not keep quiet to any act of terrorism and giving "appropriate response" to all terrorism incidents is the new normal for the country.

In a first-of-its-kind interaction with Indian students from the various universities from the Greater Washington area, Shringla said that Pakistan needs to meet its international obligations to crackdown on terrorist networks and safe havens within its territory.

Forty CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based JeM in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, sparking outrage in the country.

Following the attack, India bombed and destroyed JeM's biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control (LoC) early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders. 
Shringla updated the Indian students about the latest development back home and why India choose to act this way, after the Pulwama terrorist attack.&nbsp;

He said that Pakistan did not act against terrorist organisations or its leaders despite India giving actionable intelligence against the 26/11, Pathankot and Uri attacks.

"This time, India opted for pre-emptive attack, mainly because terrorists were planning to launch another terrorist attack inside India, he said referring to the daring air strike by Indian Air Force deep inside Pakistan.&nbsp; 
"By doing so, India ensured that it was a non-military, and in remote area with no civilian casualties," he said.

Shringla said that India has been successful in articulating its case with the international community including the US.&nbsp;

"The international community is with India," he said.

Appreciating the strong support coming from the United States, in particular from the White House, the State Department and the Congress, Shringla said this incident has brought the two countries together for counter-terrorism cooperation.&nbsp;

India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that India will not keep quiet to any act of terrorism and giving "appropriate response" to all terrorism incidents is the new normal for the country.

India's Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that India will not keep quiet to any act of terrorism and giving "appropriate response" to all terrorism incidents is the new normal for the country. In a first-of-its-kind interaction with Indian students from the various universities from the Greater Washington area, Shringla said that Pakistan needs to meet its international obligations to crackdown on terrorist networks and safe havens within its territory. Forty CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide attack by Pakistan-based JeM in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, sparking outrage in the country. Following the attack, India bombed and destroyed JeM's biggest training camp in Balakot in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 80-km from the Line of Control (LoC) early Tuesday, killing a "very large number" of terrorists, trainers and senior commanders. Shringla updated the Indian students about the latest development back home and why India choose to act this way, after the Pulwama terrorist attack. He said that Pakistan did not act against terrorist organisations or its leaders despite India giving actionable intelligence against the 26/11, Pathankot and Uri attacks. "This time, India opted for pre-emptive attack, mainly because terrorists were planning to launch another terrorist attack inside India, he said referring to the daring air strike by Indian Air Force deep inside Pakistan. "By doing so, India ensured that it was a non-military, and in remote area with no civilian casualties," he said. Shringla said that India has been successful in articulating its case with the international community including the US. "The international community is with India," he said. Appreciating the strong support coming from the United States, in particular from the White House, the State Department and the Congress, Shringla said this incident has brought the two countries together for counter-terrorism cooperation.

India will not keep quiet to any act of terrorism, says Ambassador to US

The new Indian ambassador to United States Harsh V. Shringla has lauded the role of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/relationship-between-india-us-is-on-a-very-positive-track-former-us-defence-secretary-william-cohen-195876">India caucus in strengthening India-US ties</a>. He was speaking at a Congressional Reception at Capitol Hill hosted by the co-chairs of the Senate India caucus and Congressional caucus on India and Indian-Americans Senator John Cornyn, Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Brad Sherman and Congressman George Holding.

The event was attended by an unprecedented 67 members of Congress, including Senators.

Recalling the "sterling role" played by the India caucus in "getting us past the finish line" on the civil nuclear agreement, the ambassador Shringla said,"the designation of India as a major defence partner was also codified into law by the US Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, thanks to the unstinting support of the members of the India caucus."

In the US House of Representatives, the India caucus was founded in 1993 by Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Congressman Bill McCollum of Florida.

In the Senate, the caucus was founded by Senator Cornyn and Senator Hillary Clinton in 2004. The bi-partisan India caucus is the largest country-specific caucus at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Talking about India-US ties, Shringla said, since 2008, the US has "bagged more than $18 billion in arms contracts with India including the C-17 Globemaster and C-130J transport planes, P-8 (I) maritime reconnaissance aircraft, M777 light-weight howitzer, Harpoon missiles and Apache and Chinook helicopters."

Private airlines in India has placed orders for 300 Boeing aircraft to be delivered over next 5 to 7 years whose total cost will be $39 billion and create 130,000 American Jobs. India has already started the import of US crude and natural gas worth $ 4.5 billion every year.

On geopolitics, ambassador Shringla said, India and US are "working closely in the Indo-Pacific including with our partners Japan and Australia" and in "Afghanistan, we have invested $3 billion for economic development and reconstruction efforts that are essential to bringing lasting peace and stability to the country."

The bilateral trade between India and the US currently stand at $140 billion with US exports to India growing around two-and-a-half times faster than Indian exports to the US.

The new Indian ambassador to United States Harsh V. Shringla has lauded the role of India caucus in strengthening India-US ties. He was speaking at a Congressional Reception at Capitol Hill hosted by the co-chairs of the Senate India caucus and Congressional caucus on India and Indian-Americans Senator John Cornyn, Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Brad Sherman and Congressman George Holding.

The new Indian ambassador to United States Harsh V. Shringla has lauded the role of India caucus in strengthening India-US ties. He was speaking at a Congressional Reception at Capitol Hill hosted by the co-chairs of the Senate India caucus and Congressional caucus on India and Indian-Americans Senator John Cornyn, Senator Mark Warner, Congressman Brad Sherman and Congressman George Holding. The event was attended by an unprecedented 67 members of Congress, including Senators. Recalling the "sterling role" played by the India caucus in "getting us past the finish line" on the civil nuclear agreement, the ambassador Shringla said,"the designation of India as a major defence partner was also codified into law by the US Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, thanks to the unstinting support of the members of the India caucus." In the US House of Representatives, the India caucus was founded in 1993 by Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Congressman Bill McCollum of Florida. In the Senate, the caucus was founded by Senator Cornyn and Senator Hillary Clinton in 2004. The bi-partisan India caucus is the largest country-specific caucus at the Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Talking about India-US ties, Shringla said, since 2008, the US has "bagged more than $18 billion in arms contracts with India including the C-17 Globemaster and C-130J transport planes, P-8 (I) maritime reconnaissance aircraft, M777 light-weight howitzer, Harpoon missiles and Apache and Chinook helicopters." Private airlines in India has placed orders for 300 Boeing aircraft to be delivered over next 5 to 7 years whose total cost will be $39 billion and create 130,000 American Jobs. India has already started the import of US crude and natural gas worth $ 4.5 billion every year. On geopolitics, ambassador Shringla said, India and US are "working closely in the Indo-Pacific including with our partners Japan and Australia" and in "Afghanistan, we have invested $3 billion for economic development and reconstruction efforts that are essential to bringing lasting peace and stability to the country." The bilateral trade between India and the US currently stand at $140 billion with US exports to India growing around two-and-a-half times faster than Indian exports to the US.

New India ambassador to US Harsh Shringla lauds role of India caucus 'to get past finish line'

Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will have access to all students detained in 'Pay-and-stay' visa scam by Monday.

"Weight of the government of India is behind the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/detention-of-indian-students-mea-sends-demarche-to-us-embassy-194574">detained students</a> in the country,'' he said.

"We are obviously concerned and distressed that so many Indian students have been implicated in this issue regarding the University of Farmington in Farmington Hills, Michigan. We have been very quick off the block in trying to ensure that the interests of our students are protected." Shringla reportedly told ANI.

"We have either met or are scheduled to meet shortly a majority of students under detention. We have had our people go to each and every centre across the country to access our citizens and to ensure the students are okay. By Monday we will have access to almost all our students," he added.

Shringla said that the hotlines set up for the students have so far received over 100 calls.

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Indian Ambassador to the US, HV Shringla:We've either met or are scheduled to meet shortly majority of students under detention.We've had our ppl go to each&amp;every centre across country to access our citizens&amp;to ensure students are okay. By Monday,we'll have access to our students <a href="https://t.co/5o98cMdETO">https://t.co/5o98cMdETO</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1091920761424510976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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India issued a demarche to the US Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday&nbsp;over the detention of the students and expressed concern over their well-being.

In a nationwide crackdown on Wednesday, US authorities arrested scores of Indian students, mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who were illegally staying in the country.

The students had allegedly enrolled in a fraudulent university in order to take advantage of the US government`s pay-to-stay scheme.

Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will have access to all students detained in 'Pay-and-stay' visa scam by Monday.

Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Sunday confirmed that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will have access to all students detained in 'Pay-and-stay' visa scam by Monday. "Weight of the government of India is behind the detained students in the country,'' he said. "We are obviously concerned and distressed that so many Indian students have been implicated in this issue regarding the University of Farmington in Farmington Hills, Michigan. We have been very quick off the block in trying to ensure that the interests of our students are protected." Shringla reportedly told ANI. "We have either met or are scheduled to meet shortly a majority of students under detention. We have had our people go to each and every centre across the country to access our citizens and to ensure the students are okay. By Monday we will have access to almost all our students," he added. Shringla said that the hotlines set up for the students have so far received over 100 calls. Indian Ambassador to the US, HV Shringla:We've either met or are scheduled to meet shortly majority of students under detention.We've had our ppl go to each&every centre across country to access our citizens&to ensure students are okay. By Monday,we'll have access to our students https://t.co/5o98cMdETO — ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2019 × India issued a demarche to the US Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday over the detention of the students and expressed concern over their well-being. In a nationwide crackdown on Wednesday, US authorities arrested scores of Indian students, mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who were illegally staying in the country. The students had allegedly enrolled in a fraudulent university in order to take advantage of the US government`s pay-to-stay scheme.

'Pay-and-stay' visa scam: Will have access to all students by Monday, says Indian Ambassador to US