New Delhi: India and the US have agreed to take “decisive action” against individuals who threaten the safety and sovereignty of both nations, in light of attacks by Sikh separatists on Indian diplomatic missions. A joint statement by the two Thursday–after bilateral talks between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump in Washington–also called upon Pakistan to bring to justice the perpetrators of terrorist attacks in India.
The statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said: “The leaders also committed to strengthen law enforcement cooperation to take decisive action against illegal immigration networks, organized crime syndicates, including narco-terrorists human and arms traffickers, as well as other elements who threaten public and diplomatic safety and security, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations.”
This is consequential for India, as its consulate in San Francisco was vandalised and there was an attempt at arson in July 2023 by Sikh separatists. The US administration at the time under President Joe Biden merely condemned the attack.
The Biden administration did not take any action against Sikh separatist groups, including Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), an India-designated terrorist organisation. SFJ has been attempting to hold unofficial referendums for an independent state from India, an act the Biden administration said was protected under the US First Amendment of free speech.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, without naming Sikh separatism, called this portion of the joint statement “especially significant” to recent events, during a special briefing after the Modi-Trump meeting. “There’s a commitment to strengthening law enforcement cooperation in this regard and this is especially significant from our perspective given some events that have taken place,” Misri said.
Modi, who was in the US for a two-day visit on 12-13 February, held discussions with Trump for over four hours on the entire gamut of ties between the two countries.
Cooperation by law enforcement was a key pillar of the talks, with Trump approving the extradition of 26/11 accused Tahuwwar Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin. Trump said that more such extraditions were likely to take place due to the number of requests from India.
The joint statement also called on Islamabad to “expeditiously bring to justice” the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the Pathankot attacks, which did not go down well with India’s neighbour.
The India-US statement added, “The leaders further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, and Pathankot attacks and ensure that its territory is not used to carry out cross-border terrorist attacks. The leaders also pledged to work together to prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors.”
‘One-sided, contrary to diplomatic norms’
Islamabad called the India-US statement as “one sided” and “misleading” over the specific reference to cross-border terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan.
“We consider the Pakistan specific reference in the Indo-US Joint Statement on 13 February, 2025 as one-sided, misleading and contrary to diplomatic norms. We are surprised that the reference has been added to the joint statement notwithstanding Pakistan’s counterterrorism cooperation with the United States,” said Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Friday.
He added: “Such references cannot cover up India’s sponsorship of terrorism, subversion and extrajudicial assassinations in the region and beyond, nor can they shift international attention from the stark reality of India being a safe haven for the perpetrators of hate-crimes against Muslims and other minorities.”
Pakistan contended that India’s non-compliance with United Nations resolutions was the “key source of tension and instability” in the region. Islamabad had raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in its joint statement with Turkey a day earlier, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the country for a state visit.
Islamabad also protested the planned procurement of American-made security equipment by India. Pakistan urged the US to take a “holistic view” of the situation in South Asia.
Trump pushed for the sale of a number of land and air platforms during his meeting with Modi. The American President also announced that the US was willing to sell its F-35 stealth fighters to India, apart from setting up a new initiative on the joint production of autonomous defence technologies.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also Read: Modi reunites with ‘great friend’ Trump. The ‘MAGA + MIGA’ equation under global spotlight