North News
New Delhi, January 31
India and the United States are actively coordinating to set an early date for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, announced on January 31. Jaiswal stated that the two leaders had spoken over the phone recently and are now working on arranging Modi’s visit to the US to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. He added that the exact dates for the visit are still being finalised and will be announced in due course.
On another front, Jaiswal provided an update on the Tahawwur Rana case, stating that the US Supreme Court had declined to hear Rana’s petition on January 21, 2025. India is now collaborating with the US to address procedural matters and expedite Rana’s extradition in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
In response to a recent UK Home Office report citing Hindu extremism as a threat, Jaiswal emphasized that the separatist and extremist threat from the UK remains a significant concern and should not be overlooked or inaccurately equated with other issues.
The spokesperson also addressed the situation of three Indian nationals missing in Iran, stating that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran are working closely with Iranian authorities to locate the individuals and ensure their safety. The missing nationals had reportedly traveled to Iran for business, and their families lost contact with them shortly after their arrival.
Jaiswal further mentioned that India is in regular communication with Russian authorities regarding the whereabouts of Indian personnel serving in the Russian Army as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Lastly, the MEA reaffirmed India’s firm opposition to illegal migration, especially when linked to organized crime. India and the U.S. are cooperating to combat illegal migration while promoting legal avenues for migration as part of a broader bilateral initiative.
