US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was in India on a two-day visit. He called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held comprehensive talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who was on a two-day India visit met PM Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and held discussions on issues concerning both the nations. Mike Pompeo on Wednesday morning met PM Modi which was followed by his meeting with S Jaishankar.
Earlier, Pompeo, who is here on a two-day visit, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held comprehensive talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.
Speaking at the India International Centre in his 'India policy speech', Pompeo on Wednesday evening while asserting that the world is worse off when religious rights are compromised, called for speaking "strongly" in favour of religious freedom. His comments came days after the US alleged that mob attacks by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, particularly Muslims, continued in India in 2018.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi expressed his strong commitment to achieve the full potential of India-US bilateral relations in trade and economy, energy, defence, counter-terrorism and people-to-people contacts.
The Prime Minister outlined his vision for the Indo-US strategic partnership in the new tenure of his government during his meeting with Mike Pompeo.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
1. Let's stand up together for religious freedom for all: Pompeo
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"India is the birthplace of four major world religions. Let's stand up together for religious freedom for all, let's speak out strongly together in favour of those rights for whenever we do compromise those rights, the world is worse off," Pompeo said in his 'India policy speech' at the India International Centre in New Delhi.
Pompeo's remarks have come after the US State Department last week in its annual 2018 International Religious Freedom Report had alleged that "mob attacks by violent extremist Hindu groups against minority communities, particularly Muslims, continued in India in 2018, amid rumours that victims had traded or killed cows for beef", evoking a sharp reaction from the ruling BJP which said it shows a clear bias against the Modi government.
WATCH: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and EAM S Jaishankar address the media in Delhi https://t.co/z5ARKfoPwx
— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2019
Reacting sharply to the report, BJP media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni in a statement had said, "the basic presumption in this report that there is some grand design behind anti-minority violence is simply false. On the contrary, in most of such cases, these instances are carried out as a result of local disputes and by (people with) criminal mindsets."
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo: India is the birth place of four major world religions. Let's stand up together in defence of religious freedom for all, let us speak out in favour of those rights, for whenever we do compromise those rights, the world is worse off. pic.twitter.com/aDrGtoiNda
— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2019
Whenever needed, PM Modi and other BJP leaders have strongly deplored violence against minorities and weaker sections of the society, he added. (Photo: AFP)
2. Pleased to see UN designating JeM chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist
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Pompeo, in his brief speech at India International Centre on Wednesday, said the US is pleased to see the UN designating JeM chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist.
Recently India voted against Palestinian NGO that supported terrorism at the UN and showed rewarding terrorism is wrong, he said. (Photo: AFP)
3. Trump, Modi two leaders who aren't scared to take risks: Pompeo
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Mike Pompeo hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, saying they are leaders who aren't scared to take risks and the two countries are poised to do "incredible things together".
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Delhi: Right now, we have two leaders in President Trump and PM Modi, who are not afraid to take risks where its appropriate. Let's see each other with new eyes and embrace the age of ambition. pic.twitter.com/DWF14ppbEH
— ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2019
Mike Pompeo said, "India is more and more standing up on world stage and the US welcomes its assertiveness." (Photo: AFP)
4. India-US friendship is rooted in strong foundation
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Speaking on India-US friendship, Mike Pompeo said, "We start from a good place we are blessed that India-US friendship is rooted in strong foundation."
"Rule of law, respect for human dignity, importance of civil society -- these ideals are believed in by both Indians and Americans," he said, adding though the two nations are 10,000 miles away but as two democracies they are "very close" and ought to be even closer. (Photo: AFP)
5. Talks with India not just about bilateral ties: Pompeo
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Talking about the meetings he had with the Indian leadership, Pompeo said the talks were not just about bilateral ties, but a lot of time was spent on important topics.
"There is a misconception that our countries cannot be full partners but that is not true look what already happened. You have made hard choices to cut off oil imports from Iran. You have gone away from purchasing Venezuelan oil. Those decisions weren't without cost. We are doing everything we can to ensure you have crude imports."
"We appreciate your efforts in pushing these regimes to behave like normal countries," Pompeo said. (Photo: Reuters)
6. Can America, India strategise more comprehensively, asks Pompeo
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "We shouldn't see each other only through bilateral lens. We should see each other for what we are, great democracies, good friends," he added.
Today, 60 percent of global maritime trade transits through Indo-Pacific, in past weeks Islamic Republic of Iran has attacked tankers from Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, he said.
Noting that for the first time in South China Sea, India and the US were able to reinforce their partnership and the freedom of navigation throughout international waterways, he also wondered,"Can America and India strategise more comprehensively on how to safeguard free and open seaways, all throughout the world."
"Can we work together towards cleaner energy," Pompeo added. (Photo: BB Yadav/DNA)
7. 'India will go by its national interest'
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Earlier in the day after having discussions with Mike Pompeo, Jaishankar said that India will go by its national interest on S-400 missile defence deal with sanctions-hit Russia.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar told his US counterpart Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, even as the two sides agreed to work their way through the contentious pact as also other prickly issues, including those related to trade, to take the bilateral ties to new levels.
Holding the first high-level interaction between the two countries after return of the Modi government to power last month, Jaishankar and Pompeo also discussed the issue of energy security in the wake of the situation arising out of US sanctions on buying oil from Iran with the American side assuring New Delhi that it will ensure predictability of energy supply. (Photo: BB Yadav/DNA)
8. Pompeo, Jaishankar admit having divergent views on trade
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S Jaishankar and Mike Pompeo held talks in one-on-one and delegation-level formats followed by working lunch, and resolved to deepen Indo-US cooperation in combating terrorism, including by strengthening intelligence-sharing.
Later at a joint press interaction, Pompeo and Jaishankar admitted having divergent views on trade, but asserted that friends and large trading partners will have "issues" which can be resolved. (Photo: BB Yadav/DNA)
