The current India-US partnership is going to reach another level under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said, and added that like Chandrayaan, the bilateral ties would “reach the Moon and beyond”.

Jaishankar made these remarks at the 'Celebrating Colours of Friendship' event organised by the Embassy of India in Washington on Saturday, which was attended by several hundred Indian-Americans.

“There is one clear message today that our relationship is at an all-time high. But as they say in America, you ain't seen anything yet. So, we are going to take this relationship to a different level, to a different place,” he said at the India House.

<h2>'US played key role in success of G20'</h2>

Jaishankar also credited the success of the G20 Summit in New Delhi to the US.

“As the host, when things go well, the host always gets the credit. It's reasonable. But, the G20 could not have come together if all the members of the G20 did not work for its success," he said

"I think particularly, I must say, because I'm in this country today, the contribution, the support and the understanding that we got from the United States to make a successful G20, I think that is something I would certainly like to recognise in public in Washington DC,” Jaishankar added.

“So, it may have been our success in a literal way, but I think it was the G20 [nations] success. To me, it was also a success of the India-US&nbsp;partnership.… Please keep giving this partnership the support it needs, the support it deserves and the support it expects. And I can promise you that this relationship, like the Chandrayaan, will go to the Moon, maybe even beyond,” he said.

<h2>'India-US bond unique'&nbsp;</h2>

Jaishankar said that what makes the US and India ties unique is the human bond between the two countries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-centre-implements-revised-grap-to-combat-air-pollution-during-winters-641475">India: Centre implements revised GRAP to combat air pollution during winters</a>

“Countries do business with each other. Countries do politics with each other. They have military ties, they do exercises, and they have cultural exchanges. But when two countries have that deep human bonding, that's a completely different ballgame. That is today the defining characteristic of our relationship,” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-condemns-disgraceful-incident-after-high-commissioner-denied-entry-to-uk-gurudwara-641341">India condemns ‘disgraceful incident’ after high commissioner denied entry to UK Gurudwara</a>

The foreign minister lauded the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening the relations between Washington and New Delhi.

"There are no words that can capture it. It is on that foundation that today we are looking ahead for...a new hope on the horizon...So, I think when we look at the horizon, we really see fantastic possibilities out there, and it's the community which is going to deliver on that,” Jaishankar said. 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The current India-US partnership is going to reach another level under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said, and added that like Chandrayaan, the bilateral ties would “reach the Moon and beyond”.

The current India-US partnership is going to reach another level under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar said, and added that like Chandrayaan, the bilateral ties would “reach the Moon and beyond”. Jaishankar made these remarks at the 'Celebrating Colours of Friendship' event organised by the Embassy of India in Washington on Saturday, which was attended by several hundred Indian-Americans. “There is one clear message today that our relationship is at an all-time high. But as they say in America, you ain't seen anything yet. So, we are going to take this relationship to a different level, to a different place,” he said at the India House. 'US played key role in success of G20' Jaishankar also credited the success of the G20 Summit in New Delhi to the US. “As the host, when things go well, the host always gets the credit. It's reasonable. But, the G20 could not have come together if all the members of the G20 did not work for its success," he said "I think particularly, I must say, because I'm in this country today, the contribution, the support and the understanding that we got from the United States to make a successful G20, I think that is something I would certainly like to recognise in public in Washington DC,” Jaishankar added. “So, it may have been our success in a literal way, but I think it was the G20 [nations] success. To me, it was also a success of the India-US partnership.… Please keep giving this partnership the support it needs, the support it deserves and the support it expects. And I can promise you that this relationship, like the Chandrayaan, will go to the Moon, maybe even beyond,” he said. 'India-US bond unique' Jaishankar said that what makes the US and India ties unique is the human bond between the two countries. Also read | India: Centre implements revised GRAP to combat air pollution during winters “Countries do business with each other. Countries do politics with each other. They have military ties, they do exercises, and they have cultural exchanges. But when two countries have that deep human bonding, that's a completely different ballgame. That is today the defining characteristic of our relationship,” he said. Also read | India condemns ‘disgraceful incident’ after high commissioner denied entry to UK Gurudwara The foreign minister lauded the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening the relations between Washington and New Delhi. "There are no words that can capture it. It is on that foundation that today we are looking ahead for...a new hope on the horizon...So, I think when we look at the horizon, we really see fantastic possibilities out there, and it's the community which is going to deliver on that,” Jaishankar said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

‘You ain’t seen anything yet’: Jaishankar says India-US ties to reach another level

In the first high-level engagements between the Modi government and the Joe Biden administration, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while National Security Adviser Ajit Doval talked to his American counterpart Jake Sullivan on Wednesday, broadly focusing on key regional and global challenges like combating terrorism and ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

The defence ministry said Singh received an "introductory telephone call" from the newly-appointed US Secretary of Defence Austin and that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen the "multifaceted" defence cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Official sources said China figured in the talks in the larger context of geo-political developments, and in relations to the strategic interests of India and the US in the Indo-Pacific region.

A read-out by the Pentagon said Secretary Austin emphasised the US Defence Department's commitment to the US-India major defence partnership, observing that it is built upon shared values and a common interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open.

"Secretary Austin noted the great strides made in the US-India defence relationship, and he pledged to work collaboratively with the Defence Minister to sustain progress," it said.

In his talks with Sullivan, Doval underscored that India and US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism.

"NSA Doval underscored that as leading democracies, with an abiding faith in an open and inclusive world order, India and the US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cyber security and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

It said Sullivan stated that the US was looking forward to working together on the bilateral agenda and the common global challenges.

"The two NSAs agreed to work closely to further advance India-US relations, which are built on shared values and common strategic and security interests.

They highlighted the need to work collectively to address challenges in the post-Covid era and further expand the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," the MEA said.

On talks between Singh and Austin, the sources said the essence of the conversation was that both sides wanted to maintain the upward trajectory of the strategic and defence ties to advance their common agenda of peace, prosperity and growth.

In a tweet, Singh said the firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation was reiterated during the talks.

"Spoke with my US counterpart, Secretary Def Austin and conveyed my warm wishes on his appointment," Singh tweeted.

"We reiterated our firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation.

We exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest to strengthen our strategic partnership," he said.

It is not immediately known whether the eastern Ladakh standoff between India and China was discussed in the talks.

Three days back, Austin spoke to his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi during which China's growing activities in the East China Sea figured prominently.

The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years and in June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner".

The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for deeper cooperation.

The two sides have also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for sale of high end technology from the US to India.

In October last year, India and the US sealed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) to further boost bilateral defence ties.

The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.

In the first high-level engagements between the Modi government and the Joe Biden administration, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while National Security Adviser Ajit Doval talked to his American counterpart Jake Sullivan on Wednesday, broadly focusing on key regional and global challenges like combating terrorism and ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region.

In the first high-level engagements between the Modi government and the Joe Biden administration, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while National Security Adviser Ajit Doval talked to his American counterpart Jake Sullivan on Wednesday, broadly focusing on key regional and global challenges like combating terrorism and ensuring peace in the Indo-Pacific region. The defence ministry said Singh received an "introductory telephone call" from the newly-appointed US Secretary of Defence Austin and that the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen the "multifaceted" defence cooperation and the strategic partnership between the two countries. Official sources said China figured in the talks in the larger context of geo-political developments, and in relations to the strategic interests of India and the US in the Indo-Pacific region. A read-out by the Pentagon said Secretary Austin emphasised the US Defence Department's commitment to the US-India major defence partnership, observing that it is built upon shared values and a common interest in ensuring the Indo-Pacific region remains free and open. "Secretary Austin noted the great strides made in the US-India defence relationship, and he pledged to work collaboratively with the Defence Minister to sustain progress," it said. In his talks with Sullivan, Doval underscored that India and US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism. "NSA Doval underscored that as leading democracies, with an abiding faith in an open and inclusive world order, India and the US were uniquely positioned to work closely on regional and international issues including combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cyber security and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. It said Sullivan stated that the US was looking forward to working together on the bilateral agenda and the common global challenges. "The two NSAs agreed to work closely to further advance India-US relations, which are built on shared values and common strategic and security interests. They highlighted the need to work collectively to address challenges in the post-Covid era and further expand the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," the MEA said. On talks between Singh and Austin, the sources said the essence of the conversation was that both sides wanted to maintain the upward trajectory of the strategic and defence ties to advance their common agenda of peace, prosperity and growth. In a tweet, Singh said the firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation was reiterated during the talks. "Spoke with my US counterpart, Secretary Def Austin and conveyed my warm wishes on his appointment," Singh tweeted. "We reiterated our firm commitment to deepen India-US defence cooperation. We exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest to strengthen our strategic partnership," he said. It is not immediately known whether the eastern Ladakh standoff between India and China was discussed in the talks. Three days back, Austin spoke to his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi during which China's growing activities in the East China Sea figured prominently. The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years and in June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner". The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for deeper cooperation. The two sides have also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 that provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for sale of high end technology from the US to India. In October last year, India and the US sealed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.

Indo-US ties: NSA Ajit Doval talks to US counterpart Jake Sullivan

Mike Pompeo's visit to India comes ahead of a meeting between Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in Japan. Watch full video to know more.

Pompeo meets S Jaishankar: India-US joint statement likely at 2 PM

India has welcomed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson&rsquo;s statement where he called upon India to &quot;take leadership role in regional security&quot;.

Speaking at&nbsp;the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Wednesday, Tillerson had said, &quot;Security and stability is important for economic growth.&nbsp;India and the US are working towards shared security goals.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;India must take leadership role in regional security,&quot; he added.

&quot;US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has made a significant policy statement on India-US relations and its future. He brought out its various strengths and highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order,&quot; the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Friday.

We appreciate Tillerson&#39;s positive evaluation of the relationship and share his optimism about its future directions, it added.

Tillerson made the remarks ahead of his&nbsp;week-long five-nation tour beginning Saturday which will take him to Pakistan,&nbsp;Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Switzerland apart from India.

Tillerson is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi next week, where he will meet with senior Indian leaders to discuss further strengthening of strategic partnership between India and the US and collaboration on security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

&quot;The Secretary&#39;s visit to India will advance the ambitious agenda laid out by President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Prime Minister&#39;s visit to the White House in June,&quot;&nbsp;State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.

Tillerson, in the first major foreign policy speech on October 18, said the US is India&#39;s &quot;reliable partner&quot; at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst, sending a strong signal to side with India amidst China&#39;s &quot;provocative actions&quot; in the region.

In the speech, he said the emerging Delhi-Washington strategic partnership stands upon a shared commitment upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, universal values and free trade.

(With inputs from PTI)

India has welcomed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson?s statement where he called upon India to "take leadership role in regional security".

India has welcomed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement where he called upon India to "take leadership role in regional security". Speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Wednesday, Tillerson had said, "Security and stability is important for economic growth. India and the US are working towards shared security goals." "India must take leadership role in regional security," he added. "US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has made a significant policy statement on India-US relations and its future. He brought out its various strengths and highlighted our shared commitment to a rule-based international order," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Friday. We appreciate Tillerson's positive evaluation of the relationship and share his optimism about its future directions, it added. Tillerson made the remarks ahead of his week-long five-nation tour beginning Saturday which will take him to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Switzerland apart from India. Tillerson is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi next week, where he will meet with senior Indian leaders to discuss further strengthening of strategic partnership between India and the US and collaboration on security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. "The Secretary's visit to India will advance the ambitious agenda laid out by President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Prime Minister's visit to the White House in June," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said. Tillerson, in the first major foreign policy speech on October 18, said the US is India's "reliable partner" at the world stage in this period of uncertainty and angst, sending a strong signal to side with India amidst China's "provocative actions" in the region. In the speech, he said the emerging Delhi-Washington strategic partnership stands upon a shared commitment upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, universal values and free trade. (With inputs from PTI)

Tillerson's statement significant, we share the same optimism about Indo-US ties: MEA

Outgoing US President Barack Obama telephoned Indian&nbsp;Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for his partnership that enhanced the relations between India and America, the White House has said. The two leaders reviewed progress and cooperation in Indo-US ties.

PM Modi thanked President Obama for strong support and contribution to strengthening strategic partnership and conveyed best wishes to him for his future endeavours.

Obama spoke on the phone with Modi on Wednesday to thank him for &quot;his partnership&quot; and to review joint efforts of cooperation including defence, civil-nuclear energy, and enhanced people-to-people ties, a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders said.

&quot;Recalling his visit as the chief guest at India&#39;s Republic Day celebrations in 2015, President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India&#39;s upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary,&quot; the White House said. &quot;Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a major defense partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change,&quot; it said.

Obama was one of the first leaders to congratulate Modi after his electoral victory in May 2014 and immediately invited him to visit the White House. The two leaders met at the White House in September 2014. Since then they have met each other for eight times. This is a record for leaders between India and America.

According to assistant secretary of state for South and central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal, the two leaders share a very warm relationship. &quot;They have a great deal of personal camaraderie. But they also have a great deal of respect for each other for the leadership and the values and the integrity of each other&#39;s approach,&quot; Biswal told PTI in a recent interview. &quot;You have seen from President Obama that appreciation of Prime Minister Modi in words that he has used to describe him including in that Time magazine profile of the Prime Minister.

You have seen that Prime Minister Modi&#39;s appreciation of President Obama, of his values, his leadership style which the Prime Minister has used to describe the President,&quot; she said.

She said that it is not a relationship that just came about that day when President called Prime Minister-elect Modi to congratulate him. &quot;The seeds of this relationship were actually sown many many decades earlier,&quot; Biswal had said.

&nbsp;

(PTI)

Obama spoke on the phone with Modi on Wednesday amd also?reviewed joint efforts of cooperation including defence

Outgoing US President Barack Obama telephoned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him for his partnership that enhanced the relations between India and America, the White House has said. The two leaders reviewed progress and cooperation in Indo-US ties. PM Modi thanked President Obama for strong support and contribution to strengthening strategic partnership and conveyed best wishes to him for his future endeavours. Obama spoke on the phone with Modi on Wednesday to thank him for "his partnership" and to review joint efforts of cooperation including defence, civil-nuclear energy, and enhanced people-to-people ties, a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders said. "Recalling his visit as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 2015, President Obama wished the Prime Minister warm congratulations ahead of India's upcoming 68th Republic Day anniversary," the White House said. "Both leaders discussed the progress they have made on shared economic and security priorities, including recognition of India as a major defense partner of the United States and addressing the global challenge of climate change," it said. Obama was one of the first leaders to congratulate Modi after his electoral victory in May 2014 and immediately invited him to visit the White House. The two leaders met at the White House in September 2014. Since then they have met each other for eight times. This is a record for leaders between India and America. According to assistant secretary of state for South and central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal, the two leaders share a very warm relationship. "They have a great deal of personal camaraderie. But they also have a great deal of respect for each other for the leadership and the values and the integrity of each other's approach," Biswal told PTI in a recent interview. "You have seen from President Obama that appreciation of Prime Minister Modi in words that he has used to describe him including in that Time magazine profile of the Prime Minister. You have seen that Prime Minister Modi's appreciation of President Obama, of his values, his leadership style which the Prime Minister has used to describe the President," she said. She said that it is not a relationship that just came about that day when President called Prime Minister-elect Modi to congratulate him. "The seeds of this relationship were actually sown many many decades earlier," Biswal had said. (PTI)

Outgoing US President Obama calls Indian PM Modi to thank him for his partnership

The Pentagon has said that the Indo-US defence ties are on an excellent path and will continue to remain so in the next administartion and beyond.

The statement comes days before Donald Trump&#39;s inauguration.

&quot;The (Defence) secretary&#39;s (Ashton Carter&#39;s) commitment to this (India-US) is clear. We think the defence relationship with India is on an excellent path and will continue to be so in the next administration and beyond,&quot; Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a news conference.

Known as a friend of India and strong believer in a robust India-US defence relationship, Carter is the only American defence secretary to have so many trips to India and included New Delhi in his farewell overseas trip as well.

In his previous capacity, Carter was instrumental in the path-breaking India US Defence Technology and Transfer&nbsp;Initiative (DTTI), under which the two countries have started several joining development and co-production projects.

&quot;Our relationship with India, you&#39;ve seen the commitment made by this department and this Secretary of Defence and this administration to improving our defence relationship with India,&quot; Cook said.

Responding to a question on restrictions on technology transfer to India due to the outdated arms control act of the US, Cook said obviously there are several aspects to it.

&quot;There are limits on what we can do in terms of technology -- the export of technology to India or any other country,&quot; he said.

&quot;And we&#39;ll continue to abide by the law and to work with India in places where we can, where it&#39;s appropriate for that kind of -- for specific technology to be exported. Again, not just to India but to any country, but we&#39;re gonna follow the law,&quot; Cook said.

(PTI)

The statement comes days before Donald Trump's inauguration

The Pentagon has said that the Indo-US defence ties are on an excellent path and will continue to remain so in the next administartion and beyond. The statement comes days before Donald Trump's inauguration. "The (Defence) secretary's (Ashton Carter's) commitment to this (India-US) is clear. We think the defence relationship with India is on an excellent path and will continue to be so in the next administration and beyond," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a news conference. Known as a friend of India and strong believer in a robust India-US defence relationship, Carter is the only American defence secretary to have so many trips to India and included New Delhi in his farewell overseas trip as well. In his previous capacity, Carter was instrumental in the path-breaking India US Defence Technology and Transfer Initiative (DTTI), under which the two countries have started several joining development and co-production projects. "Our relationship with India, you've seen the commitment made by this department and this Secretary of Defence and this administration to improving our defence relationship with India," Cook said. Responding to a question on restrictions on technology transfer to India due to the outdated arms control act of the US, Cook said obviously there are several aspects to it. "There are limits on what we can do in terms of technology -- the export of technology to India or any other country," he said. "And we'll continue to abide by the law and to work with India in places where we can, where it's appropriate for that kind of -- for specific technology to be exported. Again, not just to India but to any country, but we're gonna follow the law," Cook said. (PTI)

Indo-US defence ties to remain robust, says Pentagon

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pledged on Saturday that the United States and India would be &quot;best friends&quot; if he is elected as president. Calling India a &quot;key strategic ally&quot;, Trump said the two countries will have a phenomenal future together.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

He will give a boost to &quot;intelligence sharing with India in the battle against Islamic militants&quot;, international agency Reuters quoted him as saying.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Amid contoversy over sexual harassment charges following his sexist remarks, Trump was speaking at an event sponsored by the Republican Hindu Coalition to raise money for &quot;victims of terrorism&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The event featured Bollywood-style performers who danced in colourful, traditional costumes, Reuters reported. This was for the first time that a US presidential nominee attended an Indian-American event.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;If I&#39;m elected president, the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House, that I can guarantee you,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism when I&#39;m president. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with India in sharing intelligence and keeping our people safe mutually.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The real estate tycoon, who has two large development projects in India, further added saying: &nbsp;&quot;We are for free trade. We will have good trade deals with other countries. We are going to do a lot of business with India.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Republican nominee also showered praises on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking &quot;India on a fast track growth with a series of economic reforms and reforming bureaucracy&quot;, saying it was required in the US too, PTI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;I look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi who has been very energetic in reforming the economy and bureaucracy. Great man. I applaud him,&quot; Trump said.

&nbsp;

&quot;I am a big fan of Hindu and I am a big fan of India. If elected, the Indian and Hindu community would have a true friend at the White House,&quot; Trump said at the event organised for the Kashmiri Pundits and Bangladeshi Hindu terrorist victims.

&nbsp;

&quot;I have two massive developments in India, very successful, wonderful, wonderful partners, very beautiful, I must say. I have great friends and great confidence in India. Incredible people and an incredible country. I was there 19 months ago and look forward to going there many many times,&quot; he said.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters, PTI)&nbsp;

Speaking at the Republican Hindu Coalition, Trump said he will share intelligence with India to eradicate Islamic radicalism together

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pledged on Saturday that the United States and India would be "best friends" if he is elected as president. Calling India a "key strategic ally", Trump said the two countries will have a phenomenal future together. He will give a boost to "intelligence sharing with India in the battle against Islamic militants", international agency Reuters quoted him as saying. Amid contoversy over sexual harassment charges following his sexist remarks, Trump was speaking at an event sponsored by the Republican Hindu Coalition to raise money for "victims of terrorism". The event featured Bollywood-style performers who danced in colourful, traditional costumes, Reuters reported. This was for the first time that a US presidential nominee attended an Indian-American event. "If I'm elected president, the Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House, that I can guarantee you," Trump said. "We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism when I'm president. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with India in sharing intelligence and keeping our people safe mutually." The real estate tycoon, who has two large development projects in India, further added saying: "We are for free trade. We will have good trade deals with other countries. We are going to do a lot of business with India." The Republican nominee also showered praises on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking "India on a fast track growth with a series of economic reforms and reforming bureaucracy", saying it was required in the US too, PTI reported. "I look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi who has been very energetic in reforming the economy and bureaucracy. Great man. I applaud him," Trump said. "I am a big fan of Hindu and I am a big fan of India. If elected, the Indian and Hindu community would have a true friend at the White House," Trump said at the event organised for the Kashmiri Pundits and Bangladeshi Hindu terrorist victims. "I have two massive developments in India, very successful, wonderful, wonderful partners, very beautiful, I must say. I have great friends and great confidence in India. Incredible people and an incredible country. I was there 19 months ago and look forward to going there many many times," he said. (WION with inputs from Reuters, PTI)

US and India will be best friends, if I am elected: Trump

Pakistan&#39;s adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, has said that the strengthening US-India relations were not a matter of concern for Islamabad, as long as the co-operation between the two did not increase the strategic and conventional gap between the nuclear-armed rivals of the subcontinent. 
 
Aziz said in an interview that the United States has constantly assured Pakistan that both countries were of equal importance to them.&quot;I think US has itself emphasised number of times that our relations with India are not at the cost of Pakistan; both are important for us. India is important in the south Asian and east Asian context whereas Pakistan is important in west Asia and central Asian context.&quot; 
 
&quot;We are one of the largest Islamic, democratic country, and we have a role vis a vis Afghanistan and in this region,&quot; Aziz said. 
 
He also stated that the United States is an independent country and in terms of economic and other relations it can go ahead with India as it desires and as its national interests require. 
 
Aziz asserted that there is only one dimension which they have been emphasising and that is that their co-operation with India should not increase the gap, strategic and conventional military, between India and Pakistan. 
 
&quot;If that happens, then of course we have to respond. So the objective of strategic stability should be kept in view in whatever co-operation they extend, and they have acknowledged that these are legitimate concerns because they don&#39;t want an arms race - a nuclear arms race - in the subcontinent. 
 
So that&#39;s the only dimension on which we are concerned. Otherwise, the US and India relationship are not a matter of concern,&quot; he added. 
 
However, he said that Pakistan would not compromise on adequate deterrence, so the United States must persuade India not to expand its nuclear power. 
 
&quot;When they (India) started the Cold Start doctrine in which they moved 10 cantonments close to the Pakistan border so they can act on our forces at short notice and from across the border, the tactical nuclear weapons were a response to that particular threat.&nbsp;So the independent variable in this case is India. We are the dependent variable,&quot; he said. 
 
He further stated that if the US has to persuade Pakistan to respond in a positive way, they have to persuade India not to expand its nuclear and initiate the dialogue to reduce tensions and resolve disputes. 
 
&quot;But Pakistan has of course clarified that the decision: what is adequate deterrent, how to protect our security, this is our own national sovereign right. This we cannot share with anyone,&quot; Aziz said. 
 
It should be noted that the US and many other Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) member countries have supported India&#39;s inclusion based on its non-proliferation track record.The US, however, did not subsidise the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

Aziz, however, said that US cooperation with India should not increase strategic and conventional military gap between India and Pakistan

Pakistan's adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, has said that the strengthening US-India relations were not a matter of concern for Islamabad, as long as the co-operation between the two did not increase the strategic and conventional gap between the nuclear-armed rivals of the subcontinent. Aziz said in an interview that the United States has constantly assured Pakistan that both countries were of equal importance to them."I think US has itself emphasised number of times that our relations with India are not at the cost of Pakistan; both are important for us. India is important in the south Asian and east Asian context whereas Pakistan is important in west Asia and central Asian context." "We are one of the largest Islamic, democratic country, and we have a role vis a vis Afghanistan and in this region," Aziz said. He also stated that the United States is an independent country and in terms of economic and other relations it can go ahead with India as it desires and as its national interests require. Aziz asserted that there is only one dimension which they have been emphasising and that is that their co-operation with India should not increase the gap, strategic and conventional military, between India and Pakistan. "If that happens, then of course we have to respond. So the objective of strategic stability should be kept in view in whatever co-operation they extend, and they have acknowledged that these are legitimate concerns because they don't want an arms race - a nuclear arms race - in the subcontinent. So that's the only dimension on which we are concerned. Otherwise, the US and India relationship are not a matter of concern," he added. However, he said that Pakistan would not compromise on adequate deterrence, so the United States must persuade India not to expand its nuclear power. "When they (India) started the Cold Start doctrine in which they moved 10 cantonments close to the Pakistan border so they can act on our forces at short notice and from across the border, the tactical nuclear weapons were a response to that particular threat. So the independent variable in this case is India. We are the dependent variable," he said. He further stated that if the US has to persuade Pakistan to respond in a positive way, they have to persuade India not to expand its nuclear and initiate the dialogue to reduce tensions and resolve disputes. "But Pakistan has of course clarified that the decision: what is adequate deterrent, how to protect our security, this is our own national sovereign right. This we cannot share with anyone," Aziz said. It should be noted that the US and many other Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) member countries have supported India's inclusion based on its non-proliferation track record.The US, however, did not subsidise the sale of eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. (ANI)

US-Indo ties not a matter of concern for Pak: Sartaj Aziz

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