Modi in US: Terror and economic cooperation feature prominently in PM's talk with key Trump aides

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday called on Narendra Modi and discussed ways to boost Indo-US strategic ties, hours before the Indian Prime Minister was to have his first meeting with President Donald Trump. Earlier, US Defence Secretary James Mattis also called on PM Modi.

They met Modi just ahead of the prime minister's first meeting with President Donald Trump, setting the tone for the summit-level discussions.

During the meeting with Tillerson which covered strategic areas and economic cooperation, Modi defined the Indo-US ties as the "defining partnership" and said it has a global importance.

The prime minister said the whole world was looking at the partnership, according to External Affairs Ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay.

He expressed India's desire to work with the US for promoting the partnership, said Baglay while briefing the media on these meetings.

Referring to terrorism, Modi said it was posing a challenge to both the countries.

Modi and Tillerson discussed how the two countries can cooperate in countering the challenge, Baglay said, adding they deliberated on the broad direction in this context.

The prime minister emphasised that India wants good relations with all countries, including its neighbours.

He said India wants its neighbours to progress like India under his mantra of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' (cooperation of all, development of all), the spokesman said.

The issue of terrorism figured in Modi's meeting with Mattis too, along with the situation in Afghanistan.

They discussed how the Indo-US relations could be developed into an upward projectile, Baglay said.

In the discussions, there was also a veiled reference to the South China Sea over which China is laying an absolute claim.

Without naming China, Modi and Mattis emphasised the need for adhering to the international laws, freedom of navigation, air travel and communication.

The two meetings came after Modi told nearly 600 Indian-American community members that India has succeeded in convincing the world about the “face of terrorism” and India’s strength in defending its sovereignty.

“Hence, no nation questioned India’s major decision to conduct surgical strikes against terrorist launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) last year,” Modi said on Sunday at a reception in Washington DC suburb Virginia after he arrived in the US to loud cheers and applause by Indian community members.

PM Modi also said that there has been not even one taint or blot on his government in the past three years. “Corruption was the main reason why governments in India were voted out in the past. Indians hate corruption,” he said. There were several rounds of applause from the audience during Modi's nearly 50-minute speech.

The first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Modi seeks to boost US-Indian relations amid issues involving trade, the Paris climate accord and immigration.

Shortly before the meeting between the two world leaders, the US issued a notification designating Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist, vindicating India’s long-standing position on cross-border terrorism.

The Trump administration also approved India’s purchase of nearly two dozen unarmed surveillance drones worth about $2 billion. The deal needs Congressional approval.

US First Lady Melania Trump was to join Trump to welcome Modi at the White House. The Indian Prime Minister was scheduled to spend more than four hours at the White House. After being received by Trump and the First Lady in the South Portico of the White House, the two leaders were to have a one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office.

Thereafter the two leaders were scheduled to be joined by their respective delegations in the adjoining Cabinet Room.

Thereafter Modi and Trump were to head to the Rose Garden to make joint statements to the media.

After their media interaction, Trump joined by the First Lady was scheduled to host the PM and the visiting Indian delegation for a dinner in the historic Blue Room of the White House. Trump has not played host to a foreign dignitary at a White House dinner before.

Earlier on Sunday, Modi said the whole world is looking at India as a business-friendly destination, while asking CEOs of top US companies to invest in the country.

In an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, Modi has said that the logic of the Indo-US strategic ties is “incontrovertible” and the two countries have an overriding interest in securing the world from terrorism, radical ideologies and non-traditional security threats.