India, US to Pak: Stop soil from being used as terror launch pad

Modi and Trump vow to stamp out global extremism

Terrorism and counter-terrorism ruled the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump on Monday with both the leaders calling on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used as a launch pad by extremists.

Prime Minister Modi and Trump, who met on Monday at the White House to discuss the bilateral relations between the two nations, further asked Islamabad to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai blasts, Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar said.

“The other issue was the military part and it was broadly and extensively discussed along with the issue of Pakistan. There are a number of countries that are saying that their terrorism concerns also originate from the same source, and that is Pakistan. It's the right time to fix responsibility and highlight the core problem,” he added.

Jaishankar also said there was a great deal of ease between PM Modi and Trump, adding that the discussions between the two leaders were related to strategic issues, policy discussions and how India and the US are going to mutually support each other in a changing world.

In their joint press statement, too, Trump stressed on eliminating and destroying

I am thrilled to salute you, Prime Minister Modi, and the Indian people for all that you are accomplishing together.

radical Islamic terrorism. “Both nations have been struck by the evils of terrorism and are determined to destroy it, especially the radical Islamic terrorism. We will be enhancing the military cooperation and next month, will join the Japan Navy to take part in the largest maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean. I appreciate India's efforts in Afghanistan,” Trump said.

The tone for the first summit meeting was set by the US State Department which declared Syed Salahuddin, chief of the militant group Hizbul Mujahideen, as a ‘global terrorist’, just a few hours earlier. The State Department action sent out a strong message against the terrorism emanating from Pakistan which is hurting India.

Donald Trump, US President

Be assured that in this joint journey of our two nations, I will remain a driven, determined and decisive partner. Narendra Modi, Indian PM