- PM Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump held delegation level talks at White House on Monday
- Fighting terrorism top-priority, said both leaders in joint statements
- Both the leaders called on Pakistan to stem terrorist attacks
- Trump said both Modi and him are “leaders in social media”
- He accepted Modi’s invitation to visit India
- On Sunday, Modi met with top CEOs in the US, encouraging FDI
- Modi also addressed the Indian diaspora, where he remarked that his government was free of corruption
- He has left for Netherlands and will hold talks with Prime Minister Mark Rutte
Trump Praises GST
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the Modi government's Goods and Services Tax (GST) initiative, saying the largest tax overhaul in India's history will create “great new opportunities” for the Indian people.
“In just two weeks, you will begin to implement the largest tax overhaul in your country's history – we're doing that also, by the way – creating great new opportunities for your citizens,” Trump said in his joint press statement at the White House here after holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Touted as the biggest taxation reform since Independence, GST will unify 16 different taxes including excise, service tax and VAT, and transform India into a single market for seamless movement of goods and services.
India and US to Cooperate Against JeM, LeT; Ask Pak to Rein in Terror Groups
India and the US vowed to strengthen cooperation against terror outfits like Jaish-e- Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and D-Company, while urging Pakistan to ensure that its soil is not used for terror strikes against other nations.
Briefing reporters on the meeting, Foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar said counter-terrorism was a major issue that was discussed between Trump and Modi during the day.
On the reference to Pakistan, he said the joint statement could not have been more explicit on the issue of cross border-terrorism being perpetrated by terror groups from the neighbouring country's soil.
Trump Accepts Modi's Offer to Visit India
President Donald Trump has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi invitation to visit India.
Modi, standing along side Trump at the White House’s Rose Garden, on Monday had extended a warm invitation to him and his family.
I would like to invite you to India, along with your family. And I hope that you will give me the opportunity to welcome you and host you in India.Prime Minister Modi
Modi also specially invited Trump’s daughter Ivanka to lead the US delegation to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in India later this year.
“…And I believe she has accepted,” Trump said.
Ivanka later tweeted thanking the Prime Minsiter.
India, US Call on Pak to Stop Terror Attacks From Its Soil
Sending out a strong message to Pakistan, India and the US on Monday urged the country to ensure that its territory is not used to launch cross-border terror strikes and to “expeditiously” bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai and Pathankot attacks.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump also vowed to strengthen efforts to fight terrorism and eliminate safe havens for terrorists.
Eliminating terrorism is among the topmost priorities for us... We talked about terrorism, extremism and radicalisation and agreed to cooperate on this.Fighting terrorism and doing away with the safe shelters, sanctuaries, and safe havens will be an important part of our cooperation.Prime Minister Modi
Trump said both nations are “determined” to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them.
The security partnership between the US and India is incredibly important. Both our nations have been struck by the evils of terrorism and we are both determined to destroy terrorist organisations and the radical ideology that drives them. We will destroy radical Islamic terrorism.US President Donald Trump