Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. In his first bilateral meeting on the sidelines of G20 summit, Modi reportedly discussed infrastructure projects and bullet trains.

''Discussed broad range of topics of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/g20-summit-pm-modi-to-meet-trump-and-attend-two-trilateral-meetings-on-friday-230703">mutual interest</a>. PM said that he was looking forward to visit of PM Abe to India later this year for the Annual Summit,'' tweeted Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson.

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Expanding the strategic template of our relationship 
​ 
PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> met Japanese PM <a href="https://twitter.com/AbeShinzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbeShinzo</a> ahead of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/G20Summit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#G20Summit</a>. Discussed broad range of topics of mutual interest. PM said that he was looking forward to visit of PM Abe to India later this year for the Annual Summit. <a href="https://t.co/q07u4i68yu">pic.twitter.com/q07u4i68yu</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1144114496593522688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Modi praised the Japan PM for organising the summit while the latter congratulated the Indian prime minister for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-to-meet-japanese-counterpart-shinzo-abe-today-230722">''overwhelming'' victory </a>in the recent general election.

PM Modi will also be meeting Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, South Korea President Moon Jae-in, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the first day of the two-day G20 summit, the sixth he is participating since he became prime minister in 2014.

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A friendship characterised by warmth and the promise of a bright future. 
 
Prime Ministers <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AbeShinzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbeShinzo</a> hold talks in Osaka, the first such meeting between these leaders since the start of Japan’s Reiwa era. 
 
Many aspects of India-Japan relations were discussed. <a href="https://t.co/59CiuBHZWA">pic.twitter.com/59CiuBHZWA</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1144113765874429952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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On Friday, PM Modi will attend two trilateral -- Japan America &amp; India (JAI) and Russia India &amp; China trilateral (RIC). On the same day, he will also be present at the informal BRICS Meet.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. In his first bilateral meeting on the sidelines of G20 summit, Modi reportedly discussed infrastructure projects and bullet trains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe ahead of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. In his first bilateral meeting on the sidelines of G20 summit, Modi reportedly discussed infrastructure projects and bullet trains. ''Discussed broad range of topics of mutual interest. PM said that he was looking forward to visit of PM Abe to India later this year for the Annual Summit,'' tweeted Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson. Expanding the strategic template of our relationship PM @narendramodi met Japanese PM @AbeShinzo ahead of the #G20Summit. Discussed broad range of topics of mutual interest. PM said that he was looking forward to visit of PM Abe to India later this year for the Annual Summit. pic.twitter.com/q07u4i68yu — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) June 27, 2019 × Modi praised the Japan PM for organising the summit while the latter congratulated the Indian prime minister for an ''overwhelming'' victory in the recent general election. PM Modi will also be meeting Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, South Korea President Moon Jae-in, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the first day of the two-day G20 summit, the sixth he is participating since he became prime minister in 2014. A friendship characterised by warmth and the promise of a bright future. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo hold talks in Osaka, the first such meeting between these leaders since the start of Japan’s Reiwa era. Many aspects of India-Japan relations were discussed. pic.twitter.com/59CiuBHZWA — PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 27, 2019 × On Friday, PM Modi will attend two trilateral -- Japan America & India (JAI) and Russia India & China trilateral (RIC). On the same day, he will also be present at the informal BRICS Meet.

PM Modi meets Japan's Abe in his first bilateral summit on G20 sidelines  

India's PM Narendra Modi will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Osaka on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. WION correspondent Siddhant Sibal talks about what's on the agenda.

Here is what could be on the agenda during PM Modi's meeting with Shinzo Abe

WION correspondent Siddhant Sibal talks about what to expect from the upcoming meeting between PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

G20 Summit: WION's ground report from Osaka

US President Donald Trump on Thursday tweeted that he was looking forward to speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/modi-reduced-tariffs-on-harley-davidson-motorcycles-by-50-i-said-it-was-still-unacceptable-trump-226103">''very high tariffs''</a> against the United States ahead of the duo set to meet on the sidelines of G20 summit in Osaka on Friday.

''I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!'' tweeted Trump as he departed US for the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

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&nbsp;

India had imposed retaliatory tariffs and announced a hike in custom duties on 28 US products earlier this month, after Washington ended trade concessions for India on June 1 under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The products whose customs duties were hiked include almond, apple, pulses and walnut.

Trump in the past often criticised India for high tariffs on US goods and called India a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tariff-king-india-wants-trade-talks-us-immediately-says-trump-168847">"tariff king"</a>.&nbsp;

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I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1144089743795216384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2019</a></blockquote>
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''India does not want me&nbsp;to impose tariffs on its products reaching American shores while India was imposing 100 per cent tariffs on US products,'' Trump had said repeatedly in the recent past.

Trump had earlier slammed India for reported high import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles calling it “unfair” even though India had cut import duty by up to 50 per cent.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday tweeted that he was looking forward to speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about ''very high tariffs'' against the United States ahead of the duo set to meet on the sidelines of G20 summit in Osaka on Friday.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday tweeted that he was looking forward to speaking with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about ''very high tariffs'' against the United States ahead of the duo set to meet on the sidelines of G20 summit in Osaka on Friday. ''I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!'' tweeted Trump as he departed US for the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. × India had imposed retaliatory tariffs and announced a hike in custom duties on 28 US products earlier this month, after Washington ended trade concessions for India on June 1 under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The products whose customs duties were hiked include almond, apple, pulses and walnut. Trump in the past often criticised India for high tariffs on US goods and called India a "tariff king". I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019 × ''India does not want me to impose tariffs on its products reaching American shores while India was imposing 100 per cent tariffs on US products,'' Trump had said repeatedly in the recent past. Trump had earlier slammed India for reported high import tariff on Harley-Davidson motorcycles calling it “unfair” even though India had cut import duty by up to 50 per cent.

Look forward to speaking with Modi on 'very high tariffs' against US, tweets Trump ahead of G20 meet 

US President Donald Trump today said India's imposition of retaliatory tariffs was "unacceptable" and must be withdrawn. In a tweet this morning, he said he was looking forward to discussing the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders have a bilateral summit scheduled tomorrow on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan's Osaka.

'Tariffs must be withdrawn': Trump's message to PM Modi before G20 meeting

WION correpsondent Siddhant Sibal reports on the key takeaways from the bilateral meeting between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Japan PM Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

Here are the key takeaways from PM Modi-Shinzo Abe meeting in Osaka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and discussed several matters of mutual interest. This is the first meeting between the two leaders since the beginning of Japan’s Reiwa era.

PM Modi, Japan PM discuss global trade and climate change ahead of G20 Summit

India and the United States are closing in on an industrial security agreement that will allow the transfer of defence technology, sources said on Monday, ahead of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's talks in New Delhi this week to promote strategic ties.

Mike Pompeo to arrive in India on Tuesday; all eyes on strengthening defence ties

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will seek to further strengthen strategic ties with India during a visit next week despite increasing frictions over trade, data flows and arms from Russia, officials said.

Pompeo arrives in New Delhi on Tuesday for talks that are aimed at laying the ground for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the week at a G20 meeting in Japan.

India is embroiled in disputes with the United States over tariffs, Indian price caps on imported medical devices, most from the United States, and Indian rules on e-commerce that impose conditions on the operations of major US companies such as Amazon and Walmart.

Another issue that has alarmed India is the possibility of US restrictions on work visas for Indian professionals in retaliation for India's insistence on local data storage by big foreign firms, even though the State Department said on Thursday it had no such plan.

"US-India trade ties, at least between our capitals, are certainly worsening. We both have leaders who look at trade as a zero-sum game," said Richard Rossow, a US-India expert at Washington's the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Indian government led by Modi, who was re-elected last month with a big majority, says it has been trying to negotiate solutions to the disputes with the United States but that, as a developing country, it has to protect the interests of its people.

Trump has repeatedly criticised India for its high tariffs and last month raised the stakes with the withdrawal of a decades-old trade privilege.

Indian and US officials said trade would be addressed during Pompeo's visit but emphasised the broader political and security relationship.

"There will be certain issues between us that will be on the table at all points of time," an Indian government official said. "But it should not detract from the overall direction of the relationship, which is positive."

Arms sales&nbsp;

Both countries are wary of the growing might of China.

US officials said Pompeo will seek to advance the US&nbsp;strategic partnership with India.

"India is a crucial partner in the Trump administration’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region; It shares our concerns about challenges to our shared interests in the region," a senior official of the US State Department told reporters on Friday.

The official said Pompeo would "talk specifically ... about expanding security, energy and space cooperation," and noted that the two countries were gearing up for their first-ever tri-service military exercises in the Bay of Bengal later this year.

At the same time, the US side was hoping the visit would provide a "kick-start" to move quickly to resolve longstanding irritants over trade and market access for US firms.

"A serious process, a credible process and a candid process is going to be critical," the official said. "We need to get a conversation started quickly."

India and the United States eyed each other warily over decades of Cold War suspicion, when India was closer to the then Soviet Union.

But the United States has become one of India's top arms suppliers over the past decade, selling more than $15 billion of weapons such as transport planes, long-range submarine hunters and helicopter gunships.

US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing are in the race for a contract to build 110 fighter planes in a deal estimated at $20 billion.

In 2016, the United States declared India a major defence partner, opening the way for sales of high-tech military equipment seen as part of a U.S. aim to build up the country as a counterweight to China in the region.

But here too, new strains have emerged over an Indian plan to buy S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, which can trigger US sanctions under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), prohibiting any engagement with Russia's defence sector.

India, which signed the deal with Russia last year, has been hoping for a waiver, but that has not been forthcoming.

US&nbsp;principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells, told Congress this month Washington had "serious concerns" about the possible Indian purchase and there was no available CAATSA waiver when it came to the S-400.

"We are continuing our conversations about how the U.S. or other defence providers could assist India," she added.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will seek to further strengthen strategic ties with India during a visit next week despite increasing frictions over trade, data flows and arms from Russia, officials said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will seek to further strengthen strategic ties with India during a visit next week despite increasing frictions over trade, data flows and arms from Russia, officials said. Pompeo arrives in New Delhi on Tuesday for talks that are aimed at laying the ground for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the week at a G20 meeting in Japan. India is embroiled in disputes with the United States over tariffs, Indian price caps on imported medical devices, most from the United States, and Indian rules on e-commerce that impose conditions on the operations of major US companies such as Amazon and Walmart. Another issue that has alarmed India is the possibility of US restrictions on work visas for Indian professionals in retaliation for India's insistence on local data storage by big foreign firms, even though the State Department said on Thursday it had no such plan. "US-India trade ties, at least between our capitals, are certainly worsening. We both have leaders who look at trade as a zero-sum game," said Richard Rossow, a US-India expert at Washington's the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The Indian government led by Modi, who was re-elected last month with a big majority, says it has been trying to negotiate solutions to the disputes with the United States but that, as a developing country, it has to protect the interests of its people. Trump has repeatedly criticised India for its high tariffs and last month raised the stakes with the withdrawal of a decades-old trade privilege. Indian and US officials said trade would be addressed during Pompeo's visit but emphasised the broader political and security relationship. "There will be certain issues between us that will be on the table at all points of time," an Indian government official said. "But it should not detract from the overall direction of the relationship, which is positive." Arms sales Both countries are wary of the growing might of China. US officials said Pompeo will seek to advance the US strategic partnership with India. "India is a crucial partner in the Trump administration’s vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region; It shares our concerns about challenges to our shared interests in the region," a senior official of the US State Department told reporters on Friday. The official said Pompeo would "talk specifically ... about expanding security, energy and space cooperation," and noted that the two countries were gearing up for their first-ever tri-service military exercises in the Bay of Bengal later this year. At the same time, the US side was hoping the visit would provide a "kick-start" to move quickly to resolve longstanding irritants over trade and market access for US firms. "A serious process, a credible process and a candid process is going to be critical," the official said. "We need to get a conversation started quickly." India and the United States eyed each other warily over decades of Cold War suspicion, when India was closer to the then Soviet Union. But the United States has become one of India's top arms suppliers over the past decade, selling more than $15 billion of weapons such as transport planes, long-range submarine hunters and helicopter gunships. US firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing are in the race for a contract to build 110 fighter planes in a deal estimated at $20 billion. In 2016, the United States declared India a major defence partner, opening the way for sales of high-tech military equipment seen as part of a U.S. aim to build up the country as a counterweight to China in the region. But here too, new strains have emerged over an Indian plan to buy S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia, which can trigger US sanctions under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), prohibiting any engagement with Russia's defence sector. India, which signed the deal with Russia last year, has been hoping for a waiver, but that has not been forthcoming. US principal deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asia, Alice Wells, told Congress this month Washington had "serious concerns" about the possible Indian purchase and there was no available CAATSA waiver when it came to the S-400. "We are continuing our conversations about how the U.S. or other defence providers could assist India," she added.

Pompeo to seek stronger strategic ties with India despite trade tensions

The United States said that it has no plans to cap&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-has-no-plans-to-cap-h-1b-work-visa-program-state-department-229065">H-1B work visas</a> for nations that "force foreign companies to store data locally."

The development comes days ahead of US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo's India visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are also set to meet on the sidelines of G20 summit in Japan on June 28-29.&nbsp;

The State Department in a statement said, "Trump Administration’s buy American Hire American Executive Order called for a broad review of US worker visa programs, including the H-1B program."

Clarifying, the review is "not targeted at a specific country" and is "completely separate from our <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/us-tells-india-it-is-considering-caps-on-h-1b-visas-to-deter-data-rules-sources-228844">ongoing discussions</a> with India about the importance of ensuring the free flow of data across borders."

US had raised concerns over India's data localisation along with other issues.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, India, "remains engaged with the US administration, with US Congress, emphasised time and again at high-level interaction, the contribution of Indian skilled professionals to growth and development of US economy"

On data localisation, he said, New Delhi remains engaged with the US "and see how we can dispel any misconception on data localisation."

Data localisation is the use of data of a country's nationals on how it is collected and stored within the country or sent outside.&nbsp;

New Delhi has been saying that US companies should store data of Indian nationals in India.

The United States said that it has no plans to cap H-1B work visas for nations that "force foreign companies to store data locally." The development comes days ahead of US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo's India visit.

The United States said that it has no plans to cap H-1B work visas for nations that "force foreign companies to store data locally." The development comes days ahead of US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo's India visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are also set to meet on the sidelines of G20 summit in Japan on June 28-29. The State Department in a statement said, "Trump Administration’s buy American Hire American Executive Order called for a broad review of US worker visa programs, including the H-1B program." Clarifying, the review is "not targeted at a specific country" and is "completely separate from our ongoing discussions with India about the importance of ensuring the free flow of data across borders." US had raised concerns over India's data localisation along with other issues. Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, India, "remains engaged with the US administration, with US Congress, emphasised time and again at high-level interaction, the contribution of Indian skilled professionals to growth and development of US economy" On data localisation, he said, New Delhi remains engaged with the US "and see how we can dispel any misconception on data localisation." Data localisation is the use of data of a country's nationals on how it is collected and stored within the country or sent outside. New Delhi has been saying that US companies should store data of Indian nationals in India.

US says H-1B visa programme and data localisation not linked  

Indian President hail Govt's achievements, In this video have a look at key takeaways.

Indian President hail Govt's achievements: Have a look at key takeaways

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Thursday spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and underscored the Trump administration's strong commitment to work closely with India to advance the bilateral strategic partnership, a top official has said.

Pompeo, who will be visiting India from June 25-27, spoke with Jaishankar to congratulate the External Affairs Minister on his appointment, State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said.

The congratulatory call from Pompeo comes nearly three weeks after Jaishankar was appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his External Affairs Minister.

"Pompeo underscored the strong US commitment to working closely with the new Indian Government to advance our strategic partnership," Ortagus said in a readout of the call, which took a long time ? possibly the longest in at least a decade.

"Secretary Pompeo and Minister Jaishankar also discussed shared US and Indian objectives in safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific, US India security cooperation, and the US-India economic partnership," Ortagus said.

Pompeo's visit to India will be the first high-level engagement between the two countries since the general election.

Earlier, Pompeo said his upcoming visit to New Delhi will be focused on advancing America's "incredibly important" ties with India which is a significant part of President Donald Trump's strategy to advance the shared goal of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region, where China is flexing its muscles.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military maneuvering in the region.

China has been trying to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, which is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the sea.

China has expanded through reclamation or built entirely new man-made islands atop coral reefs and has equipped many of them with military installations and airfields.

Prime Minister Modi during his recent visit to the Maldives underscored India's firm commitment to make the strategic Indo-Pacific an area for shared economic growth, saying it has been "our lifeline, and also the highway for trade and prosperity."&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Thursday spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and underscored the Trump administration's strong commitment to work closely with India to advance the bilateral strategic partnership, a top official has said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Thursday spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and underscored the Trump administration's strong commitment to work closely with India to advance the bilateral strategic partnership, a top official has said. Pompeo, who will be visiting India from June 25-27, spoke with Jaishankar to congratulate the External Affairs Minister on his appointment, State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said. The congratulatory call from Pompeo comes nearly three weeks after Jaishankar was appointed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his External Affairs Minister. "Pompeo underscored the strong US commitment to working closely with the new Indian Government to advance our strategic partnership," Ortagus said in a readout of the call, which took a long time ? possibly the longest in at least a decade. "Secretary Pompeo and Minister Jaishankar also discussed shared US and Indian objectives in safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific, US India security cooperation, and the US-India economic partnership," Ortagus said. Pompeo's visit to India will be the first high-level engagement between the two countries since the general election. Earlier, Pompeo said his upcoming visit to New Delhi will be focused on advancing America's "incredibly important" ties with India which is a significant part of President Donald Trump's strategy to advance the shared goal of a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region, where China is flexing its muscles. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military maneuvering in the region. China has been trying to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, which is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the sea. China has expanded through reclamation or built entirely new man-made islands atop coral reefs and has equipped many of them with military installations and airfields. Prime Minister Modi during his recent visit to the Maldives underscored India's firm commitment to make the strategic Indo-Pacific an area for shared economic growth, saying it has been "our lifeline, and also the highway for trade and prosperity."

Ahead of India visit, Pompeo makes congratulatory call to Jaishankar 

The ruling TRS in Telangana Wednesday welcomed the idea of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies while its ally in the state, the AIMIM, said the proposal violated the basic structure of India's constitution.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier convened an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of 'one nation, one election' which was attended by both the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

However, several other opposition parties, including the Congress, skipped the meeting as they were opposed to the idea.

A committee for giving "time-bound" suggestions on simultaneous elections will be set up by Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced after the meeting.

"It is definitely a welcome decision to conduct simultaneous elections whatever the practical problems," TRS working president K T Rama Rao told reporters in New Delhi.

Conducting elections in phases, with the model code of conduct remaining in force for about seven months created an impression among people that governance took a backseat, Rama Rao, who represented the TRS in the all-party meeting.

Holding elections in a time-bound manner would help in reducing the influence of money and budgeting would also be easy if national and state elections are held together, he said.

TRS would cooperate if any Constitutional amendments or other measures are required to be made for the purpose, Rama Rao, son of TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said.

However, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who represented his party at the meeting, said simultaneous elections violated the basic structure of India's constitution.

"I reiterated our stand that simultaneous elections are inconsistent with parliamentary democracy and federalism. Therefore, they violate the basic structure of our Constitution," he tweeted.&nbsp;

The ruling TRS in Telangana Wednesday welcomed the idea of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies while its ally in the state, the AIMIM, said the proposal violated the basic structure of India's constitution.

The ruling TRS in Telangana Wednesday welcomed the idea of simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies while its ally in the state, the AIMIM, said the proposal violated the basic structure of India's constitution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier convened an all-party meeting to discuss the issue of 'one nation, one election' which was attended by both the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). However, several other opposition parties, including the Congress, skipped the meeting as they were opposed to the idea. A committee for giving "time-bound" suggestions on simultaneous elections will be set up by Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced after the meeting. "It is definitely a welcome decision to conduct simultaneous elections whatever the practical problems," TRS working president K T Rama Rao told reporters in New Delhi. Conducting elections in phases, with the model code of conduct remaining in force for about seven months created an impression among people that governance took a backseat, Rama Rao, who represented the TRS in the all-party meeting. Holding elections in a time-bound manner would help in reducing the influence of money and budgeting would also be easy if national and state elections are held together, he said. TRS would cooperate if any Constitutional amendments or other measures are required to be made for the purpose, Rama Rao, son of TRS president and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said. However, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who represented his party at the meeting, said simultaneous elections violated the basic structure of India's constitution. "I reiterated our stand that simultaneous elections are inconsistent with parliamentary democracy and federalism. Therefore, they violate the basic structure of our Constitution," he tweeted.

TRS welcomes simultaneous elections; ally AIMIM says no

India has rubbished reports in Pakistani media that PM Modi wrote a letter to his Pakistani counterpart expressing desire to resume talks between the two countries.

Responding to queries on PM Modi's response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's congratulatory message on BJP's win in Indian general elections, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "The Indian response is as per the established diplomatic practice and the India side highlighted that New Delhi seeks normal and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan."

PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, responding to congratulatory letters by Imran Khan and Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi, asked Islamabad to create an environment free of terror. India seeks normal and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan, both PM Modi and foreign minister Jaishankar highlighted in their letters.

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In his message, PM Modi said, "It is important to build an environment of trust, free of terror, violence and hostility." Foreign minister Jaishankar emphasised the need for an "atmosphere free from the shadow of terror and violence".

India has said no talks with Pakistan will happen till it takes action on terror groups on its territory and that has been Modi government's policy in its first term.

During the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO meet in Bishkek both Indian and Pakistani premiers were in the same room many times but no bilateral meeting or <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-modi-imran-pull-aside-at-sco-as-new-delhi-strongly-raises-terror-227148">pull-aside</a> happened though <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-and-imran-khan-exchange-pleasantries-at-sco-summit-227199">pleasantries were exchanged</a> once.

Pakistani PM Imran Khan had called PM Modi after his election victory on May 23. During the conversation, no invite was extended to Imran Khan for the oath-taking of Narendra Modi on May 30 and New Delhi had called for the need to create an environment free of terrorism.

Ties between the two countries are frayed since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 whose responsibility was claimed by Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

India has rubbished reports in Pakistani media that PM Modi wrote a letter to his Pakistani counterpart expressing desire to resume talks between the two countries.

India has rubbished reports in Pakistani media that PM Modi wrote a letter to his Pakistani counterpart expressing desire to resume talks between the two countries. Responding to queries on PM Modi's response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's congratulatory message on BJP's win in Indian general elections, the Ministry of External Affairs said, "The Indian response is as per the established diplomatic practice and the India side highlighted that New Delhi seeks normal and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan." PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, responding to congratulatory letters by Imran Khan and Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi, asked Islamabad to create an environment free of terror. India seeks normal and cooperative relations with all neighbours, including Pakistan, both PM Modi and foreign minister Jaishankar highlighted in their letters. × In his message, PM Modi said, "It is important to build an environment of trust, free of terror, violence and hostility." Foreign minister Jaishankar emphasised the need for an "atmosphere free from the shadow of terror and violence". India has said no talks with Pakistan will happen till it takes action on terror groups on its territory and that has been Modi government's policy in its first term. During the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO meet in Bishkek both Indian and Pakistani premiers were in the same room many times but no bilateral meeting or pull-aside happened though pleasantries were exchanged once. Pakistani PM Imran Khan had called PM Modi after his election victory on May 23. During the conversation, no invite was extended to Imran Khan for the oath-taking of Narendra Modi on May 30 and New Delhi had called for the need to create an environment free of terrorism. Ties between the two countries are frayed since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 whose responsibility was claimed by Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.

India rubbishes Pak media reports on PM Modi's letter, says terror and talks can't go together

BJP MP from Kota, Om Birla has been elected as the Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi a while ago had moved motion to choose Om Birla as Lok Sabha speaker. Watch this video to know more.

Lok Sabha: Om Birla takes over as speaker

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan exchanged usual pleasantries at the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-modi-imran-pull-aside-at-sco-as-new-delhi-strongly-raises-terror-227148"> Leaders' Lounge</a> during the 19th Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO) summit which ended on Friday. &nbsp;

Although no formal meeting took place between the two leaders, the two leaders reportedly greeted each other. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Confirming the development, Pakistan&nbsp;Foreign Minister SM Qureshi speaking to WION said, "It was an informal exchange and there was an exchange of pleasantries. Pakistani PM congratulated him on his victory and of course, he has come with a heavy mandate by defeating a major political family"

''PM Imran Khan and PM Narendra Modi had<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-pleasantries-exchanged-between-pm-modi-and-imran-khan-on-day-1-of-sco-summit-226949"> chitchat for a few minutes</a> and shook hands during forum gathering. They talked about recent Indian elections,'' a Pakistan journalist also tweeted quoting Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.&nbsp;

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There were seven occasions when both the leaders came across each other starting with informal dinner hosted by Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Gala Concert on Thursday to five occasions on Friday. These were photo opp in the morning, followed by restricted format meetings, extended format meeting, final photo opp and lunch.

Ahead of the Summit India had clarified no structured bilateral talks will take place between the two leaders but speculation was rife regarding a pull-aside.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Modi sought global cooperation on the issue of terror and said unilateralism and protectionism haven't helped anyone, implying recent policy decisions of US of late.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan exchanged usual pleasantries at the Leaders' Lounge during the 19th Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO) summit which ended on Friday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan exchanged usual pleasantries at the Leaders' Lounge during the 19th Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO) summit which ended on Friday. Although no formal meeting took place between the two leaders, the two leaders reportedly greeted each other. Confirming the development, Pakistan Foreign Minister SM Qureshi speaking to WION said, "It was an informal exchange and there was an exchange of pleasantries. Pakistani PM congratulated him on his victory and of course, he has come with a heavy mandate by defeating a major political family" ''PM Imran Khan and PM Narendra Modi had chitchat for a few minutes and shook hands during forum gathering. They talked about recent Indian elections,'' a Pakistan journalist also tweeted quoting Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. × There were seven occasions when both the leaders came across each other starting with informal dinner hosted by Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Gala Concert on Thursday to five occasions on Friday. These were photo opp in the morning, followed by restricted format meetings, extended format meeting, final photo opp and lunch. Ahead of the Summit India had clarified no structured bilateral talks will take place between the two leaders but speculation was rife regarding a pull-aside. Prime Minister Modi sought global cooperation on the issue of terror and said unilateralism and protectionism haven't helped anyone, implying recent policy decisions of US of late.

PM Modi and Imran Khan exchanged pleasantries at SCO summit: Pakistan foreign minister

Watch 'India Watch.' This is the show that brings you the latest on the world's biggest democratic nation's exercise, Verified updates & Unbiased analysis.

Watch: India Watch, 13th June 2019

At the informal dinner hosted by President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov on day 1 of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart exchanged no pleasantries.

Both the leaders entered the dining hall almost the same time, with PM Modi entering a step ahead of cricketer-turned-politician Khan.&nbsp;

Except for each other, both the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wuhan-provided-stability-and-momentum-to-india-china-ties-pm-modi-to-xi-226895">leaders shook hands</a> with everyone. No interaction has taken place between the two sides all throughout the event.

PM Modi was seated towards the right of PM Khan on the fourth seat.

Ahead of the Bishkek summit, India had dismissed reports of any <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/during-bilateral-talks-pm-modi-and-xi-jinping-discuss-pakistan-terror-and-boundary-dispute-226899">bilateral-level talks</a> between the two South Asian neighbours.&nbsp;

"To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the SCO Summit in Bishkek," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told WION.

Meanwhile, in what many see as a diplomatic gaffe, Pakistan PM Imran Khan continued to be seated while the host --President of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbekov and other leaders entered the venue.&nbsp;

At the informal dinner hosted by President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov on day 1 of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart exchanged no pleasantries.

At the informal dinner hosted by President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov on day 1 of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart exchanged no pleasantries. Both the leaders entered the dining hall almost the same time, with PM Modi entering a step ahead of cricketer-turned-politician Khan. Except for each other, both the leaders shook hands with everyone. No interaction has taken place between the two sides all throughout the event. PM Modi was seated towards the right of PM Khan on the fourth seat. Ahead of the Bishkek summit, India had dismissed reports of any bilateral-level talks between the two South Asian neighbours. "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the SCO Summit in Bishkek," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told WION. Meanwhile, in what many see as a diplomatic gaffe, Pakistan PM Imran Khan continued to be seated while the host --President of Kyrgyzstan Jeenbekov and other leaders entered the venue.

No pleasantries exchanged between PM Modi and Imran Khan on day 1 of SCO summit 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the relationship between the two countries has strengthened.

PM Modi and Xi held a bilateral talks on the sidelines of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-holds-bilateral-talks-with-chinese-president-xi-jinping-on-sco-sidelines-226851">SCO summit</a> in Kyrgyzstan. This was the first meeting between the two leaders after Modi's re-election following the stunning victory of the BJP in the general elections in India last month.

The meeting began with President Xi congratulating Prime Minister Modi over his election victory.

"After the election results in India, I got your message, and today again you wish me on the victory, I am very grateful to you for this," Modi replied.

PM Modi also mentioned about Wuhan informal summit and said there has been "improvement in strategic communication" between the two countries after the summit.&nbsp;

"After our meeting in Wuhan, we have seen a new momentum and stability in our relations. There has been a rapid progress in the strategic communication between the two sides, leading to be more sensitive towards each other's concerns and interests. And there has been new areas for further cooperation since then," Modi told Xi.

Watch: MEA briefing on Modi-Xi meeting

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The 2018 Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi was largely credited to have turned around the bilateral relations soured by the 73-day Doklam stand-off, triggered by Chinese troops attempts to build a road close to Indian border in an area also claimed by Bhutan in 2017.

After the Wuhan summit, both the countries stepped up efforts to improve relations on different spheres including the military-to-military ties.

Modi also wished Chinese President Xi Jinping happy birthday during the meeting. The Chinese leader celebrates his 66th birthday on June 15.

This was the first meeting of Modi with the Chinese leader in 2019. This also was the first meeting of Modi and Xi after the listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist.&nbsp;

The two leaders have met more than 10 times in the last five years, out of which four meetings happened in 2018, starting with informal Wuhan summit in April followed by bilateral meetings on the sidelines of SCO, BRICS and G20. The Chinese president will be coming to India later this year for the second informal summit.

On Friday, PM will participate at the SCO meet in the morning and will have a bilateral meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and&nbsp;Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. He will also have many pull-aside meeting with leaders of several countries but no pull aside with Pakistan Prime Minister&nbsp;Imran Khan is expected.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the relationship between the two countries has strengthened. PM Modi and Xi held a bilateral talks on the sidelines of SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the relationship between the two countries has strengthened. PM Modi and Xi held a bilateral talks on the sidelines of SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan. This was the first meeting between the two leaders after Modi's re-election following the stunning victory of the BJP in the general elections in India last month. The meeting began with President Xi congratulating Prime Minister Modi over his election victory. "After the election results in India, I got your message, and today again you wish me on the victory, I am very grateful to you for this," Modi replied. PM Modi also mentioned about Wuhan informal summit and said there has been "improvement in strategic communication" between the two countries after the summit. "After our meeting in Wuhan, we have seen a new momentum and stability in our relations. There has been a rapid progress in the strategic communication between the two sides, leading to be more sensitive towards each other's concerns and interests. And there has been new areas for further cooperation since then," Modi told Xi. Watch: MEA briefing on Modi-Xi meeting The 2018 Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi was largely credited to have turned around the bilateral relations soured by the 73-day Doklam stand-off, triggered by Chinese troops attempts to build a road close to Indian border in an area also claimed by Bhutan in 2017. After the Wuhan summit, both the countries stepped up efforts to improve relations on different spheres including the military-to-military ties. Modi also wished Chinese President Xi Jinping happy birthday during the meeting. The Chinese leader celebrates his 66th birthday on June 15. This was the first meeting of Modi with the Chinese leader in 2019. This also was the first meeting of Modi and Xi after the listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. The two leaders have met more than 10 times in the last five years, out of which four meetings happened in 2018, starting with informal Wuhan summit in April followed by bilateral meetings on the sidelines of SCO, BRICS and G20. The Chinese president will be coming to India later this year for the second informal summit. On Friday, PM will participate at the SCO meet in the morning and will have a bilateral meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Kyrgyzstan's President Sooronbay Jeenbekov. He will also have many pull-aside meeting with leaders of several countries but no pull aside with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected.

Wuhan provided 'stability and momentum' to India-China ties: PM Modi to Xi Jinping

Watch: India Watch, 12th June 2019

Preparations are underway in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is all set to begin&nbsp;on Thursday. WION's Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indian envoy Alok A Dimri in Bishkek on various topics including, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country and the relationship between both the countries.&nbsp;

WION: How do you see the relationship between the two countries?

Alok A Dimri: The relationship is fantastic. PM Modi was here in 2015, and this is a repeat visit in four years. It was a historic moment that PM undertook a combined visit of all five central Asian countries and thereafter Kyrgyz president undertook a visit to India in 2016. President of Kyrgyz Republic was also a special invitee at Prime Minister's swearing-in ceremony, just a week ago.&nbsp;

This is a hugely symbolic and highly interesting occasion for us and for the bilateral relationship. We have been able to maintain a momentum of very high-level visits and exchanges and this is definitely the first significant visit outside the neighbourhood and Modi's first multilateral visit to this geography. India and our Kyrgyz partners are expecting good results.

WION: How important SCO is for India?

Alok A Dimri: We live in a globalised world. The distances are much shorter and multilateralism of this order is the new order of the world relationship. So yes, there are very important multilateral platforms in which our leaders visit, travel and get engaged with each other. SCO is one of them. You have heard of BRICS, you have heard of G-20 and India is a significant economy, significant society and significant world power in today's sense and all global initiative have India on board. In that context, our engagement through multilateral platforms is natural. So for SCO summit is concerned, let us wait.

WION: How is India helping central Asia connect?

Alok A. Dimri: For us, it is very logical and interesting that we deepen our trade and commercial linkages. We need to bring our products and more of our entrepreneurs, it is like more of Kyrgyz business community to travel to India. Our distances are not large, our flying time is three hours, we are barely a thousand kilometres, so there are a whole lot of natural convergences which along with historical context ensure that we come much closer.&nbsp;

Preparations are underway in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is all set to begin on Thursday. WION's Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indian envoy Alok A Dimri in Bishkek on various topics including, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country and the relationship between both the countries.

Preparations are underway in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is all set to begin on Thursday. WION's Sidhant Sibal spoke to Indian envoy Alok A Dimri in Bishkek on various topics including, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country and the relationship between both the countries. WION: How do you see the relationship between the two countries? Alok A Dimri: The relationship is fantastic. PM Modi was here in 2015, and this is a repeat visit in four years. It was a historic moment that PM undertook a combined visit of all five central Asian countries and thereafter Kyrgyz president undertook a visit to India in 2016. President of Kyrgyz Republic was also a special invitee at Prime Minister's swearing-in ceremony, just a week ago. This is a hugely symbolic and highly interesting occasion for us and for the bilateral relationship. We have been able to maintain a momentum of very high-level visits and exchanges and this is definitely the first significant visit outside the neighbourhood and Modi's first multilateral visit to this geography. India and our Kyrgyz partners are expecting good results. WION: How important SCO is for India? Alok A Dimri: We live in a globalised world. The distances are much shorter and multilateralism of this order is the new order of the world relationship. So yes, there are very important multilateral platforms in which our leaders visit, travel and get engaged with each other. SCO is one of them. You have heard of BRICS, you have heard of G-20 and India is a significant economy, significant society and significant world power in today's sense and all global initiative have India on board. In that context, our engagement through multilateral platforms is natural. So for SCO summit is concerned, let us wait. WION: How is India helping central Asia connect? Alok A. Dimri: For us, it is very logical and interesting that we deepen our trade and commercial linkages. We need to bring our products and more of our entrepreneurs, it is like more of Kyrgyz business community to travel to India. Our distances are not large, our flying time is three hours, we are barely a thousand kilometres, so there are a whole lot of natural convergences which along with historical context ensure that we come much closer.

Hugely symbolic visit of PM Modi to the Kyrgyz Republic: Indian Envoy 

Counter-terrorism, Afghanistan and ties with central Asian countries will be the top focus of India at the Shanghai cooperation organisation&nbsp; (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan between June 13 and 14. PM Modi will be in Bishkek for the summit, which will be his first international multilateral engagement in his second term.

Gitesh Sharma, Secretary (West), MEA, while briefing the media on PM's participation at the summit said,"if you look at the record of previous SCO interactions..terrorism does figure in the deliberations...on contact group of Afghanistan countries of the region are challenged by the situation there and have deep interest in stability of Afghanistan as well"

On central Asia, he said, "The way we approach SCO is that it provides as a framework where we can engage with the central Asian countries in particular. We have robust relations with each one of them."&nbsp;

This is Modi's first bilateral visit to&nbsp;Kyrgyzstan&nbsp;and Modi will be meeting his Kyrgyz counterpart. President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov as SCO chair was invited for the oath-taking ceremony of PM Modi in May.

Modi will also hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be his first meeting with Chinese leadership after the listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist by the United Nations.&nbsp;

Sharma said,"We have excellent relations with Russia and China"

MEA meanwhile clarified that there will be no formal bilateral meet between PM Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Both leaders will be face to face for the first time in their present capacity.&nbsp;

India became full member of SCO in 2017 and this is the second head of states/government meet in which New Delhi is participating. Prime Minister Modi had also attended the last meet in Qingdao , China in June 2018.

SCO represents approximately 42 per cent of the world's population, 22 per cent of world's land area and 20 per cent of global GDP and has 8 members--India, Pakistan, Russia, China and four central asian countries -- Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Counter-terrorism, Afghanistan and ties with central Asian countries will be the top focus of India at the Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan between June 13 and 14.

Counter-terrorism, Afghanistan and ties with central Asian countries will be the top focus of India at the Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan between June 13 and 14. PM Modi will be in Bishkek for the summit, which will be his first international multilateral engagement in his second term. Gitesh Sharma, Secretary (West), MEA, while briefing the media on PM's participation at the summit said,"if you look at the record of previous SCO interactions..terrorism does figure in the deliberations...on contact group of Afghanistan countries of the region are challenged by the situation there and have deep interest in stability of Afghanistan as well" On central Asia, he said, "The way we approach SCO is that it provides as a framework where we can engage with the central Asian countries in particular. We have robust relations with each one of them." This is Modi's first bilateral visit to Kyrgyzstan and Modi will be meeting his Kyrgyz counterpart. President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov as SCO chair was invited for the oath-taking ceremony of PM Modi in May. Modi will also hold bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This will be his first meeting with Chinese leadership after the listing of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist by the United Nations. Sharma said,"We have excellent relations with Russia and China" MEA meanwhile clarified that there will be no formal bilateral meet between PM Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Both leaders will be face to face for the first time in their present capacity. India became full member of SCO in 2017 and this is the second head of states/government meet in which New Delhi is participating. Prime Minister Modi had also attended the last meet in Qingdao , China in June 2018. SCO represents approximately 42 per cent of the world's population, 22 per cent of world's land area and 20 per cent of global GDP and has 8 members--India, Pakistan, Russia, China and four central asian countries -- Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

PM Modi's first multilateral engagement to coincide with SCO Summit

PM Narendra Modi leaves for Sri Lanka from Maldives. Watch full video to know more.

PM Modi leaves for Sri Lanka from Maldives

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrapped up his<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/pm-modis-visit-to-sri-lanka-and-the-maldives-bolsters-long-term-maritime-strategy-for-india-225515"> two-nation visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka</a> stressing on New Delhi's "neighbourhood first" policy and focusing on a range of issues from counter-terror, climate change, Indo-Pacific region. This was Modi's first visit abroad in the second term and symbolic in several ways.

Counter-terror was a subject PM raised both in the Maldives and in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

In a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/contribute-to-indias-development-modi-tells-diaspora-in-sri-lanka-225663">strong message of solidarity to terror-hit Sri Lanka</a>, Modi's first stop in the country was the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-message-of-solidarity-to-sri-lanka-pm-modi-visits-terror-hit-st-anthonys-church-in-colombo-225623">St Anthony's church in Kochchikade</a>. The church was the site of one of the terror attacks on April 21.&nbsp;

Over 93 people died in the Chruch in the Easter Sunday coordinated attacks that killed more than 250 people. "I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka," Modi tweeted immediately after his visit.

"My heart goes out to the families of the victims and the injured," He added.

Modi is the first head of any government to visit the island nation after the terror attacks.&nbsp;

Watch: How is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit perceived in Sri Lanka

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-maldives-pm-modi-held-talks-with-leaders-to-boost-bilateral-ties-225585">In the Maldives, Modi</a> called for an international conference on terror, saying "The water is now rising above the head".&nbsp;

India had proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism or CCIT in 1996 that called for a common definition for terror but the draft has remained a draft because of lack of consensus at the United Nations.

Without mentioning Pakistan PM said, "State sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat the world is facing today".

"Terrorism is not just a threat for a country, but to the entire civilisation. It is very unfortunate that people are still making the mistake of distinguishing between good terrorists and bad terrorists," Modi further said.

New Delhi's actions on terror in the past had the backing of both Sri Lanka and the Maldives.&nbsp;

India and Maldives both agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, Countering Violent Extremism and De-radicalisation.

Meanwhile, the mention of Indo-Pacific by PM Modi in the Maldivian Parliament is something that will not go unnoticed in several world capitals including Beijing which sees the concept very suspiciously.&nbsp;

Calling for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific", PM said, "India will not only use its strength to strengthen its own nation but also its neighbours and their bright future."&nbsp;

"The maldives will be a great partner for" India's vision for Indo Pacific as both are "neighbours and friends," he added.

This is the second time, PM Modi has publically addressed the concept from an international forum. Last year PM spoke about Indo-Pacific at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore.

With increased Chinese influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, India is keen to engage with its maritime neighbours such as Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Seychelles.&nbsp;

To boost connectivity a passenger-cum-cargo ferry service between Kochi and Kulhudhuffushi in Malé was inaugurated during Modi's visit.

Sri Lanka

For Sri Lanka India has provided 14,000 houses to upcountry Tamils (Indian origin Tamils), ambulances and rolling stock for railways. India is also working with Japan and Sri Lanka to develop an LNG terminal and east container terminal at the Colombo port.&nbsp;

Modi's Sri Lanka visit was short and packed but saw him meeting the top leadership of the country and interact with the Indian community.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrapped up his two-nation visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka stressing on New Delhi's "neighbourhood first" policy and focusing on a range of issues from counter-terror, climate change, Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrapped up his two-nation visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka stressing on New Delhi's "neighbourhood first" policy and focusing on a range of issues from counter-terror, climate change, Indo-Pacific region. This was Modi's first visit abroad in the second term and symbolic in several ways. Counter-terror was a subject PM raised both in the Maldives and in Sri Lanka. In a strong message of solidarity to terror-hit Sri Lanka, Modi's first stop in the country was the St Anthony's church in Kochchikade. The church was the site of one of the terror attacks on April 21. Over 93 people died in the Chruch in the Easter Sunday coordinated attacks that killed more than 250 people. "I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka," Modi tweeted immediately after his visit. "My heart goes out to the families of the victims and the injured," He added. Modi is the first head of any government to visit the island nation after the terror attacks. Watch: How is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit perceived in Sri Lanka × In the Maldives, Modi called for an international conference on terror, saying "The water is now rising above the head". India had proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism or CCIT in 1996 that called for a common definition for terror but the draft has remained a draft because of lack of consensus at the United Nations. Without mentioning Pakistan PM said, "State sponsorship of terrorism is the biggest threat the world is facing today". "Terrorism is not just a threat for a country, but to the entire civilisation. It is very unfortunate that people are still making the mistake of distinguishing between good terrorists and bad terrorists," Modi further said. New Delhi's actions on terror in the past had the backing of both Sri Lanka and the Maldives. India and Maldives both agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, Countering Violent Extremism and De-radicalisation. Meanwhile, the mention of Indo-Pacific by PM Modi in the Maldivian Parliament is something that will not go unnoticed in several world capitals including Beijing which sees the concept very suspiciously. Calling for a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific", PM said, "India will not only use its strength to strengthen its own nation but also its neighbours and their bright future." "The maldives will be a great partner for" India's vision for Indo Pacific as both are "neighbours and friends," he added. This is the second time, PM Modi has publically addressed the concept from an international forum. Last year PM spoke about Indo-Pacific at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore. With increased Chinese influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, India is keen to engage with its maritime neighbours such as Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Seychelles. To boost connectivity a passenger-cum-cargo ferry service between Kochi and Kulhudhuffushi in Malé was inaugurated during Modi's visit. Sri Lanka For Sri Lanka India has provided 14,000 houses to upcountry Tamils (Indian origin Tamils), ambulances and rolling stock for railways. India is also working with Japan and Sri Lanka to develop an LNG terminal and east container terminal at the Colombo port. Modi's Sri Lanka visit was short and packed but saw him meeting the top leadership of the country and interact with the Indian community.

PM Modi sends powerful message against terror as he wraps up two-nation visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and the two leaders discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest, reported news agency PTI.

Indian prime minister is the first foreign leader to visit the island nation after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-message-of-solidarity-to-sri-lanka-pm-modi-visits-terror-hit-st-anthonys-church-in-colombo-225623">Easter attacks</a> in which more than 250 people were killed. His visit is considered as a sign of India's affirmation of solidarity with Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the deadly Easter terror attacks in April.

"PM @narendramodi and President of Sri Lanka @MaithripalaS discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. A banquet was hosted in honour of PM by President @MaithripalaS #Neighbourhoodfirst," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

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Reinforcing partnership 
 
PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> and President of Sri Lanka <a href="https://twitter.com/MaithripalaS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaithripalaS</a> discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. A banquet was hosted in honour of PM by President <a href="https://twitter.com/MaithripalaS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaithripalaS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Neighbourhoodfirst?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Neighbourhoodfirst</a> <a href="https://t.co/lrz7jTuNdf">pic.twitter.com/lrz7jTuNdf</a>
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1137638717454086144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Modi was accorded a ceremonial reception at the President's House. Sri Lankan President Sirisena was seen holding an umbrella and providing cover to himself and Prime Minister Modi from rain.

Earlier, Modi visited a Catholic church - one of the sites of the horrific <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-sri-lanka-today-will-be-personally-received-by-sri-lankan-counterpart-wickremesinghe-in-colombo-225582">Easter Sunday attacks</a> - soon after his arrival in Sri Lanka and paid tributes to the victims of the deadly terror strikes, saying "cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka".

Prime Minister Modi's entourage made a detour to St Anthony's church on their way to the Presidential Secretariat.

"I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka," said Modi, the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the Easter attacks in April.

Modi arrived in Colombo from Maldives where he held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and the two leaders discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest, reported news agency PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and the two leaders discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest, reported news agency PTI. Indian prime minister is the first foreign leader to visit the island nation after the Easter attacks in which more than 250 people were killed. His visit is considered as a sign of India's affirmation of solidarity with Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the deadly Easter terror attacks in April. "PM @narendramodi and President of Sri Lanka @MaithripalaS discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. A banquet was hosted in honour of PM by President @MaithripalaS #Neighbourhoodfirst," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Reinforcing partnership PM @narendramodi and President of Sri Lanka @MaithripalaS discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. A banquet was hosted in honour of PM by President @MaithripalaS #Neighbourhoodfirst pic.twitter.com/lrz7jTuNdf — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) June 9, 2019 × Modi was accorded a ceremonial reception at the President's House. Sri Lankan President Sirisena was seen holding an umbrella and providing cover to himself and Prime Minister Modi from rain. Earlier, Modi visited a Catholic church - one of the sites of the horrific Easter Sunday attacks - soon after his arrival in Sri Lanka and paid tributes to the victims of the deadly terror strikes, saying "cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka". Prime Minister Modi's entourage made a detour to St Anthony's church on their way to the Presidential Secretariat. "I am confident Sri Lanka will rise again. Cowardly acts of terror cannot defeat the spirit of Sri Lanka. India stands in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka," said Modi, the first foreign leader to visit Sri Lanka after the Easter attacks in April. Modi arrived in Colombo from Maldives where he held wide-ranging talks with Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday.

PM Modi discusses bilateral issues of mutual interest with Lankan President Sirisena 

Terror, climate change and Indo-pacific were the three main issues Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about during his address to the Maldivian Parliament.&nbsp;

Modi is only the second foreign Head of State or Government to address the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-conferred-with-maldives-highest-honour-accorded-to-foreign-dignitaries-order-of-nishanizzuddeen-225498">People’s Majlis </a>in its 86 year history.

Coming hard on "state sponsorship of terror" PM called it a huge challenge which is a danger for the entire humanity and requested the international community to host a global conference to tackle terror.&nbsp;

He said, "There is not a single day when terrorist does not kill innocents.&nbsp;

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Terrorists don't have their banks or ammunition factories, yet they never have a lack of ammunition. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/focus-on-cricket-diplomacy-as-pm-modi-gifts-bat-to-maldives-president-solih-225524">Who gives them these ammunitions?</a> This is a pity that people still try to differentiate between good and bad terrorists."

Calling climate change " not a myth", PM said "drying rivers and erratic weather is impacting farmers and rising water levels is threatening countries like Maldives." &nbsp;

India has supported the Maldives on climate change and has provided 2500 LED lights to the capital Male.&nbsp;

Without naming Pakistan, PM said, "the water is now rising above the head. Combating terrorism and radicalisation is the most accurate test of leadership in the world"

While lauding speaker of the Maldivian Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, who as the President held the first cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the challenges of climate change PM said, "The Maldives has taken a number of initiatives for sustainable development"

The focus was also on Indo-Pacific with PM saying there are a number of unresolved disputes in the region. Calling for a "Free and OpenIndo-Pacific", PM said, "India will not only use its strength to strengthen its own nation but also its neighbours and their bright future," adding, for "Maldives will be great partner for India's vision for Indo-Pacific as both are neighbours and friends".&nbsp;

PM Modi last year at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore detailed India's vision on Indo-Pacific which he said is inclusive.

The speaker of the Maldives Parliament gifted PM Modi the first copy of Maldivian constitution as a token of "India's defence towards Maldives".

This is the 11th time PM Modi addressed a Parliament of a foreign country since 2014 but first time in his second term. Overall in his first term, PM Modi addressed Parliaments of 10 countries. In the past he has addressed the parliaments of Bhutan, Nepal, Australia, Fiji, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Afghanistan, US and Uganda.&nbsp;

(Anshu Dubey contributed to this story)

Terror, climate change and Indo-pacific were the three main issues Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about during his address to the Maldivian Parliament.

Terror, climate change and Indo-pacific were the three main issues Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about during his address to the Maldivian Parliament. Modi is only the second foreign Head of State or Government to address the People’s Majlis in its 86 year history. Coming hard on "state sponsorship of terror" PM called it a huge challenge which is a danger for the entire humanity and requested the international community to host a global conference to tackle terror. He said, "There is not a single day when terrorist does not kill innocents. × Terrorists don't have their banks or ammunition factories, yet they never have a lack of ammunition. Who gives them these ammunitions? This is a pity that people still try to differentiate between good and bad terrorists." Calling climate change " not a myth", PM said "drying rivers and erratic weather is impacting farmers and rising water levels is threatening countries like Maldives." India has supported the Maldives on climate change and has provided 2500 LED lights to the capital Male. Without naming Pakistan, PM said, "the water is now rising above the head. Combating terrorism and radicalisation is the most accurate test of leadership in the world" While lauding speaker of the Maldivian Parliament Mohamed Nasheed, who as the President held the first cabinet meeting underwater to highlight the challenges of climate change PM said, "The Maldives has taken a number of initiatives for sustainable development" The focus was also on Indo-Pacific with PM saying there are a number of unresolved disputes in the region. Calling for a "Free and OpenIndo-Pacific", PM said, "India will not only use its strength to strengthen its own nation but also its neighbours and their bright future," adding, for "Maldives will be great partner for India's vision for Indo-Pacific as both are neighbours and friends". PM Modi last year at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore detailed India's vision on Indo-Pacific which he said is inclusive. The speaker of the Maldives Parliament gifted PM Modi the first copy of Maldivian constitution as a token of "India's defence towards Maldives". This is the 11th time PM Modi addressed a Parliament of a foreign country since 2014 but first time in his second term. Overall in his first term, PM Modi addressed Parliaments of 10 countries. In the past he has addressed the parliaments of Bhutan, Nepal, Australia, Fiji, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Afghanistan, US and Uganda. (Anshu Dubey contributed to this story)

Terror, climate change, Indo-Pacific dominate PM Modi's address to Maldivian Parliament

In this segment of WION, Have A Look at PM Modi's Speeches at Foreign Parliaments in Past.

Have A Look at PM Modi's Speeches at Foreign Parliaments in Past

Amidst new peace overtures from the Imran Khan government after the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has made it clear to Pakistan that the onus for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mike-pompeo-discusses-indo-pak-situation-with-british-national-security-advisor-202169">sustained peace in South Asia</a> was on it by putting the terror groups out of business.

Khan has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistans-imran-khan-writes-to-pm-modi-seeks-to-maintain-peaceful-neighbourhood-225327">written a second letter to Prime Minister Modi</a> after his re-election, saying that Pakistan wants talks with India to resolve all differences, including on the Kashmir issue.

The Pakistani premier said talks between the two nations were the only solution to help both countries' people overcome poverty and that it was important to work together for regional development.

However, India has rejected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/strengthen-security-along-indo-pak-border-ahead-of-amarnath-yatra-dgp-dilbag-singh-224044">Pakistan's offer of talks</a>, maintaining that terror and talks cannot go together and said that no bilateral meeting has been planned between the two premiers on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek on June 13-14.

What the United States is really looking for in Pakistan are arrests and prosecutions and not allowing these groups to operate and move around freely, acquire weapons, cross into India, carry out attacks, a senior White House official told this week.

The United States is looking for sustained and irreversible steps that shut down their operations, asserted the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Until these groups are put out of business, it's going to be very difficult for India and Pakistan to achieve a sustained peace. So the onus is on Pakistan to ensure that they crack down on these groups, said the White House official responding to a question on the US assessment of the Indo-Pak tension.

A senior State Department official said that in the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack, the US has seen Pakistan taking some initial actions against designated terrorist organisations and more steps to enhance counter terrorism financing measures.

We welcome those steps, the official said.

We have always agreed that the underlying causes of the tensions between India and Pakistan needed to be addressed and the underlying tension has been the role of terrorist forces that have sanctuary on Pakistani soil. So we certainly encourage the creation of an environment that will lead to a dialogue, the official said.

Pakistan needs to take practical steps to demonstrate that it is countering terrorist financing and extremists that are located on their territory, a senior State Department Official told reporters last week.

Paris-based international terror financing watchdog FATF in June last year placed Pakistan onto its watch list in a bid to push the country to halt support for militant groups.

In February, the FATF decided to continue the 'Grey' listing of Pakistan for its failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as the JeM, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).&nbsp;

Amidst new peace overtures from the Imran Khan government after the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has made it clear to Pakistan that the onus for sustained peace in South Asia was on it by putting the terror groups out of business.

Amidst new peace overtures from the Imran Khan government after the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the White House has made it clear to Pakistan that the onus for sustained peace in South Asia was on it by putting the terror groups out of business. Khan has written a second letter to Prime Minister Modi after his re-election, saying that Pakistan wants talks with India to resolve all differences, including on the Kashmir issue. The Pakistani premier said talks between the two nations were the only solution to help both countries' people overcome poverty and that it was important to work together for regional development. However, India has rejected Pakistan's offer of talks, maintaining that terror and talks cannot go together and said that no bilateral meeting has been planned between the two premiers on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek on June 13-14. What the United States is really looking for in Pakistan are arrests and prosecutions and not allowing these groups to operate and move around freely, acquire weapons, cross into India, carry out attacks, a senior White House official told this week. The United States is looking for sustained and irreversible steps that shut down their operations, asserted the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Until these groups are put out of business, it's going to be very difficult for India and Pakistan to achieve a sustained peace. So the onus is on Pakistan to ensure that they crack down on these groups, said the White House official responding to a question on the US assessment of the Indo-Pak tension. A senior State Department official said that in the wake of the Pulwama terrorist attack, the US has seen Pakistan taking some initial actions against designated terrorist organisations and more steps to enhance counter terrorism financing measures. We welcome those steps, the official said. We have always agreed that the underlying causes of the tensions between India and Pakistan needed to be addressed and the underlying tension has been the role of terrorist forces that have sanctuary on Pakistani soil. So we certainly encourage the creation of an environment that will lead to a dialogue, the official said. Pakistan needs to take practical steps to demonstrate that it is countering terrorist financing and extremists that are located on their territory, a senior State Department Official told reporters last week. Paris-based international terror financing watchdog FATF in June last year placed Pakistan onto its watch list in a bid to push the country to halt support for militant groups. In February, the FATF decided to continue the 'Grey' listing of Pakistan for its failure to stop funding of terrorist groups such as the JeM, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).

Onus for Indo-Pak peace on Pakistan: White House

Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that no meeting is planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

MEA's spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, in response to WION's question at the first weekly MEA presser of the new government, said, "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the SCO Summit in Bishkek."

Speculations were&nbsp;rife that both leaders may meet, especially with the visit of Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood to India.

MEA also clarified on his visit saying it was a "personal visit and there was no meeting scheduled" between Pak FS and any Indian official.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called PM Modi to congratulate after his election victory in the general elections. During the call, PM Modi asked Pak PM to create an environment free of terror.

Ties between the two countries are frayed since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack.&nbsp;

India has been asking Pakistan to act on terror and Modi government's policy in its first tenure has been talks and terror cant go together.

On cross border terror, the spokesperson said Pakistan needs to "walk the talk" and take action against terrorist on its territory.

Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that no meeting is planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that no meeting is planned between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next week in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. MEA's spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, in response to WION's question at the first weekly MEA presser of the new government, said, "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the SCO Summit in Bishkek." Speculations were rife that both leaders may meet, especially with the visit of Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood to India. MEA also clarified on his visit saying it was a "personal visit and there was no meeting scheduled" between Pak FS and any Indian official. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had called PM Modi to congratulate after his election victory in the general elections. During the call, PM Modi asked Pak PM to create an environment free of terror. Ties between the two countries are frayed since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14. Pakistan based United Nations listed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack. India has been asking Pakistan to act on terror and Modi government's policy in its first tenure has been talks and terror cant go together. On cross border terror, the spokesperson said Pakistan needs to "walk the talk" and take action against terrorist on its territory.

No Modi, Imran meeting planned on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, says MEA 

Ajit Doval continues as National Security Advisor of India. Ajit Doval is the first NSA to get cabinet rank.This moves clearly shows the confidence or trust of PM Modi in Ajit Doval. Watch this video to know more.

India Watch: Profile of Retained NSA Ajit Doval

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said that India-China border is stable and forces of both the countries are in close communication with each other.

"Both sides have close communication with each other and the border area is generally stable. The common interest of China and India far outway our differences," Fenghe said while addressing Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

On the resolution of the boundary dispute, he said, "The Chinese side is ready to work with India to properly handle the boundary question. At the moment management of the boundary, question is sound."&nbsp;

In 2017, the Doklam crisis saw over a two-month-long standoff between Indian and Chinese forces after Bejing tried to build a road on Bhutanese territory.

Calling the relationship between the two countries "sound", General Fenghe recalled the informal Wuhan summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China President Xi Jinping and said both the leaders provided "guidance for the relationship and the comprehensive strategic partnership has enjoyed sound growth and our consensus is that two militaries need to work together to contribute to the overall relationship between China and India."

Chinese President Xi and PM Modi met four times in 2018 starting with Wuhan informal summit followed by meetings on the sidelines of Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO), BRICS &amp; G20 Summit. Xi will be visiting India this year for the second Informal Summit.&nbsp;

Wei Fenghe had visited India last year and met officials including the then defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Fenghe was quite optimistic about the ties and said, "Both sides committed for a cooperative and stable relationship between the two sides. The momentum of a relationship, it is getting better and better and we are making active efforts to further grow this bilateral relationship."

India and China held a Joint Exercise “Hand-in-Hand” in Pujiang, China from 10 to 23 December 2018 in which 130 personnel from each side participated.

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said that India-China border is stable and forces of both the countries are in close communication with each other. "Both sides have close communication with each other and the border area is generally stable.

Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe said that India-China border is stable and forces of both the countries are in close communication with each other. "Both sides have close communication with each other and the border area is generally stable. The common interest of China and India far outway our differences," Fenghe said while addressing Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. On the resolution of the boundary dispute, he said, "The Chinese side is ready to work with India to properly handle the boundary question. At the moment management of the boundary, question is sound." In 2017, the Doklam crisis saw over a two-month-long standoff between Indian and Chinese forces after Bejing tried to build a road on Bhutanese territory. Calling the relationship between the two countries "sound", General Fenghe recalled the informal Wuhan summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China President Xi Jinping and said both the leaders provided "guidance for the relationship and the comprehensive strategic partnership has enjoyed sound growth and our consensus is that two militaries need to work together to contribute to the overall relationship between China and India." Chinese President Xi and PM Modi met four times in 2018 starting with Wuhan informal summit followed by meetings on the sidelines of Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO), BRICS & G20 Summit. Xi will be visiting India this year for the second Informal Summit. Wei Fenghe had visited India last year and met officials including the then defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Fenghe was quite optimistic about the ties and said, "Both sides committed for a cooperative and stable relationship between the two sides. The momentum of a relationship, it is getting better and better and we are making active efforts to further grow this bilateral relationship." India and China held a Joint Exercise “Hand-in-Hand” in Pujiang, China from 10 to 23 December 2018 in which 130 personnel from each side participated.

India-China border stable, forces of 2 countries in close communication: China defence minister 

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