India raises issue of pro-Khalistani group Sikh for Justice's anti-India activities in meeting with Tulsi Gabbard

India raised the issue of anti-India activities conducted by the Khalistani organisation SFJ (Sikh For Justice) in America during the meeting between US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, an ANI report citing sources said. 

India expressed its concerns and asked the US administration to take strong action against the unlawful organisation, the report said. 

Singh and on Monday held wide-ranging talks focusing on enhancing the overall India-US strategic ties, especially in defence and information sharing.

Gabbard arrived in the national capital early Sunday on a two-and-a-half-day trip in the first high-level visit to India by a top official of the Donald Trump administration.

In a social media post, Singh said he was “happy” to meet the US national intelligence chief and discussed ways to further deepen the India-US partnership.

The Asia leg of Gabbard's trip will culminate in an address on March 18 at the Raisina Dialogue, a multinational gathering of security officials in Delhi, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited her.

Doval meets Gabbard

Just a day ago, Gabbard met National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and attended a conclave of global intelligence czars in the national capital that was hosted by India.

It is learnt that in their one-on-one meeting, Doval and Gabbard mainly discussed ways to strengthen intelligence sharing and work closely in the security domain in sync with the India-US global strategic partnership.

The US Director of National Intelligence, Canadian spy chief Daniel Rogers, and UK National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell were among the top global intelligence czars who attended the India-hosted security conclave chaired by Doval.

The deliberations at the conclave were held behind closed doors.

Focus on terrorism

It is learnt that the top intelligence and security officials focused on sharing intelligence and cooperation to tackle terrorism and threats posed by emerging technologies.

People familiar with the matter said the meeting also focused on security in the Indo-Pacific region, cooperation to counter terror funding and money laundering, and issues related to extradition and immigration.

The Indian side also raised concerns about anti-India elements operating from foreign soil, including pro-Khalistan elements, they said.

The intelligence chiefs of the UK, New Zealand, and several other friendly Indian countries were learnt to have attended the conclave.

(With inputs from ANI)