Holding their first bilateral meeting, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson discussed on Friday the terrorism challenge and security cooperation, besides deliberating on ways to further strengthen bilateral partnership.
“They discussed further strengthening the US-India partnership, particularly in the areas of fighting terrorism, promoting economic growth, and expanding security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Helaena White, the State Department spokesperson for South Asian media.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the two of them ‘discussed regional issues, with a focus of Pakistan, Afghanistan and terrorism’ and ‘reviewed all aspects all the bilateral relationship, including expanding our trade and investment relations’.
At the meeting that was held in New York on the sidelines of the ongoing UN General Assembly session, Swaraj also prominently raised the issue of H-1B visas that are most sought after by Indian software professionals and IT companies with US operations.
“EAM Sushma Swaraj strongly raised the issue of H-1B visa and children falling under DACA policy with Secretary Tillerson,” Kumar tweeted.
President Donald Trump’s recent action on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) by referring the issue to US Congress instead of extending amnesty through executive action has given rise to fresh uncertainties about the future of 800,000 young undocumented aliens, including about 7,000 of Indian origin.
A statement put out by State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the discussions focused on ‘further strengthening the US-India political and economic partnership’.
“The Secretary thanked the Minister for India’s contributions to stability and development in Afghanistan and the region,” Nauert said, adding that the two also discussed the upcoming Global Entrepreneurship Summit, to be held in Hyderabad in November. President Trump’s daughter Ivanka is set to lead the US delegation to the summit.
“Secretary Tillerson and Minister Swaraj also looked forward to convening a 2+2 dialogue alongside Minister of Defence Sitharaman and Secretary of Defense Mattis in the near future,” Nauert said.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, has announced that US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis will visit India next week and hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman. It would be the first visit by a US Cabinet member to India under the Trump administration.
“The Secretary will emphasise that the United States views India as a valued and influential partner, with broad mutual interests extending well beyond South Asia,” a Pentagon statement said, adding that Mattis would also express US appreciation for India’s important contributions towards Afghanistan’s democracy, stability, prosperity and security.