Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, to designate Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as a terrorist outfit, citing its links to terrorist organizations and Pakistan’s spy agency, ISI, sources told The Indian Express on Monday.
Singh raised the issue during his meeting with Gabbard in New Delhi, emphasizing the threat posed by SFJ, a pro-Khalistan separatist group banned by India in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Later, Gabbard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. In a post on X, Modi said, “Glad to welcome @TulsiGabbard to India. Exchanged views on further advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Both countries are committed to combating terrorism and enhancing maritime and cyber security cooperation.”
Five Eyes Intelligence Meet in India
Gabbard also attended a high-level intelligence conference hosted by NSA Ajit Doval, R&AW Chief Ravi Sinha, and IB Director Tapan Deka on Sunday. The meeting included intelligence heads from the Five Eyes alliance—the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Key attendees included:
- Daniel Rogers, Chief of Canada’s CSIS
- Jonathan Powell, UK’s National Security Advisor
- Andrew Hampton, New Zealand’s intelligence head
While Australia’s intelligence chief Andrew Shearer could not attend, a senior official from Australia was present.
The discussions come amid ongoing tensions following allegations of an assassination plot against SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US and the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India has strongly rejected allegations of involvement, calling them “absurd” and “politically motivated.”
Strengthening India-US Defence Ties
Following the meeting, Singh posted on X, “Happy to have met the US Director of National Intelligence Ms @TulsiGabbard in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues including defence and information sharing, aiming to further deepen the India-US partnership.”
A statement from the Ministry of Defence highlighted the growing strength of the India-US bilateral defence partnership. Both leaders emphasized military cooperation, strategic security, and defence industrial integration as key aspects of their alliance.
Discussions also explored:
- Joint military exercises
- Information-sharing in maritime security
- Advancements in defence technology and innovation
- Strengthening defence industrial supply chains
Singh also praised Gabbard’s appreciation for Indian culture, stating that such sentiments further strengthen Indo-US ties.
Gabbard Reaffirms Trump’s Stand on Terrorism
In an interview with ANI, Gabbard reiterated Donald Trump’s commitment to defeating Islamist terrorism, which she said remains a direct threat to the US and its allies.
Asked about Pakistan’s role in terror attacks on India, she said, “President Trump has been very clear about his commitment to defeating Islamist terrorism. We see how it has impacted India, Bangladesh, Syria, Israel, and other Middle Eastern nations. Prime Minister Modi takes this threat seriously, and both countries will work together to counter it.”
She also pledged to ensure that the US intelligence community remains focused on national security and truth-seeking, enabling President Trump to make well-informed decisions.