After meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would sell military equipment worth millions of dollars to India, including F-35 fighter jets.
While providing details about an energy sector agreement with India, Trump stated during a joint press conference in Washington that India would import more oil and gas from the U.S. to reduce the trade deficit between the two countries.
“They are going to buy large quantities of oil and gas from us. They need it, and we have it,” Trump said.
On this occasion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “To ensure India’s energy security, we are focusing on oil and gas trade.”
He also expressed his commitment to further investments in nuclear energy.
It is noteworthy that Modi’s visit to the U.S. comes at a time when President Trump has already issued an executive order imposing tariffs on imports.
Despite differences over trade issues, Trump and Modi have maintained good personal relations in recent years. During Modi’s reception on Thursday, Trump referred to their strong relationship, saying, “Our relationship has been wonderful.”
Immigration and Modi’s U.S. Visit
During Modi’s two-day official visit, immigration was also a key topic between the U.S. and India. It was expected that Trump would ask India to take back thousands of illegal immigrants.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi mentioned that he had discussed space research, technology, and innovation with Trump’s ally, Elon Musk.
Modi added, “I am confident that we will work at twice the speed compared to Trump’s first term.”
Shortly before this bilateral meeting, Trump directed his advisors to reassess tariffs on trade partners worldwide. He warned that these tariffs could take effect from April 1.
U.S. Agrees to Extradite 2008 Mumbai Attack Mastermind Tahawwur Rana to India
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Tahawwur Rana, the mastermind behind the November 26, 2008 Mumbai attacks, will be extradited to India.
Following his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, Trump stated that Rana would face justice in India for his role in the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian citizen, is currently imprisoned in the U.S., and India has long been demanding his extradition.
Previously, a Chicago court had approved Rana’s extradition to India for his alleged involvement in the Mumbai attacks. However, in May 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his appeal against the Chicago court’s decision.
The court ruled that Rana would remain in U.S. custody until the Department of State made a final decision.
It is worth noting that the 2008 Mumbai attacks resulted in the deaths of 166 people, and the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba was blamed for the incident.
In 2011, a Chicago federal court found Rana guilty of providing support to Lashkar-e-Taiba but acquitted him of directly planning or participating in the Mumbai attacks. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2013 for these crimes.
In 2020, Rana was temporarily released from U.S. prison on humanitarian grounds after testing positive for COVID-19, but he was re-arrested following India’s extradition request.
Who is Tahawwur Hussain Rana?
Tahawwur Hussain Rana was born in Pakistan and served in the Pakistani military’s medical corps as a Captain before moving to Canada with his wife in 1997.
Before his 2009 arrest, Rana operated an immigration and travel agency in Chicago, along with several other businesses.
Rana and his wife, both medical degree holders, became Canadian citizens in 2001.
He faced 12 charges, including aiding in the murder of U.S. citizens. He was accused of providing cover for his former friend David Coleman Headley and facilitating communication between Headley and a person known as “Major Iqbal,” believed by some to be linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.
Rana was found guilty of providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba and playing a role in a failed conspiracy against a Danish newspaper. However, he was acquitted of direct involvement in the Mumbai attacks, which killed over 160 people, including six Americans.
In 2013, a U.S. court sentenced Rana to 14 years in prison for his involvement in planning the Mumbai and Denmark attacks alongside his friend, David Headley.