In a morning tweet, Trump said that the King denied any knowledge of the journalist's whereabouts. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post and a Saudi royal insider-turned-critic, entered his country's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2 and has not been seen since.
"Just spoke to the King of Saudi Arabia who denies any knowledge of whatever may have happened 'to our Saudi Arabian citizen.' He said that they are working closely with Turkey to find the answer. I am immediately sending our Secretary of State to meet with King," Trump tweeted.
Turkish intelligence officials say they have audio and visual evidence that shows Khashoggi, a permanent resident of the US in self-imposed exile, was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.
Saudi Arabia, however, denies any involvement in his disappearance and maintains that he left the consulate the same afternoon.
Trump's comments came as the Saudis gave Turkish authorities permission to search the kingdom's consulate in Turkey, where Turkish officials believe the journalist was killed and dismembered, the New York Times reported.
Saudi officials first granted permission for the consulate to be searched last week, but later asked for a delay.
As per reports, Turkish officials also want to search the nearby Consul General's residence and have repeatedly accused the Saudis of failing to cooperate with their investigation.
Diplomatic pressure is growing on the Saudis to give a fuller explanation. The UK, France and Germany demanded a "credible investigation" into the events and Trump warned of serious retribution if the Saudis were found to be behind Khashoggi's possible death.
A joint Turkish-Saudi working group into the case has been proposed, but the results of a separate, internal Saudi investigation should be made public soon, a Saudi official told CNN.
The Saudi official said that a royal decree was issued on Friday directing the public prosecutor to conduct an internal investigation, based on intelligence shared by Turkey.
On Sunday, Washington and Riyadh traded a series of threats, with Trump warning of the potential for "severe punishment" and Saudi officials threatening to retaliate if the US imposed sanctions. Riyadh later softened its tone.
"There's something really terrible and disgusting about that, if that were the case. So we're going to have to see," Trump said in a "60 Minutes" interview broadcast on Sunday.
"We're going to get to the bottom of it and there will be severe punishment."
The news that Turkey could enter the consulate came a day after the Saudi King called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss the Khashoggi case.
The two leaders agreed on a joint working group to look into the journalist's disappearance.
After the signing of the deal during the course of the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin here on Friday, a top source pointed out that India's negotiations for the S-400 missile system began several years before the current US sanctions on Russia came into effect.
This was basically implying that New Delhi will not give up on its defence cooperation legacy with Moscow in the face of another country's actions.
The S-400 missile deal has been an issue of much speculation after the Trump administration's Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) law came into effect in January. CAATSA targets countries doing business with Russian, Iranian and North Korean defence companies.
A group of US senators imposed the sanctions on Russia over what they called Moscow's continued involvement in the wars in Ukraine and Syria and its alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
Following the signing of the S-400 deal, the US Embassy spokesperson here said that the intent of her country's implementation of CAATSA was "to impose costs on Russia for its malign behaviour, including by stopping flow of money to Russia's defence sector".
Spokesperson Jinnie Lee said that CAATSA was "not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners".
Her comments came after a senior US State Department official said last month that there will be no blanket waiver for defence trade with Russia.
"On the S-400, there is no blanket waiver or country-specific waiver," Principal Deputy Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Alice Wells had said while briefing the media about the first ever 2+2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis held the 2+2 Dialogue here on September 6.
Wells also referred to Pompeo's remarks to the media here after the 2+2 Dialogue in which he said that no decision has been taken on the S-400 deal.
"We continue to have conversations with the Indian leadership on ways we are working to hold Russia accountable for its behaviour," she stated. "As Secretary Pompeo said, the sanctions are not intended to adversely impact countries like India. These are designed to impact Russia."
The most significant outcome of the 2+2 Dialogue was the signing of the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) by the two sides. COMCASA guarantees India access to critical US defence technologies and communication networks to help the militaries of the two countries in their interoperability.
Though India and the US maintain a robust Global Strategic Partnership with the two countries being major defence partners, by signing the S-400 missile deal, New Delhi has now sent a clear signal to the world that its bilateral relationship with one country is independent of that with a third country.
This was also evident when Modi went to Wuhan in China in April at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal summit after Indian and Chinese troops were in a face-to-face situation at Doklam on the India-Bhutan-China trijunction for 73 days last year.
India and China are now also in talks to update a 12-year-old defence agreement and establish a hotline between their defence ministries.
Putin, too, after being re-elected President for the fourth time, hosted Modi for a similar informal summit in the Russian resort city of Sochi in May. Following that meeting, Modi said that India-Russia bilateral ties have been taken to a new level.
New Delhi also made its foreign policy independence in West Asia clear when Modi made separate visits to Israel in July last year and to Palestine in February this year.
These were the first-ever Indian prime ministerial visits to the two countries.
Despite developing strong ties with Israel, India in December last year voted with the rest of the world in the UN General Assembly against US President Donald Trump's unilateral decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Now, what remains to be seen is how India handles the fresh US sanctions on Iran that are set to come into effect on November 4.
The US pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that Tehran had signed with the five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council, Germany and the European Union and imposed the new sanctions on the West Asian nation over its nuclear programme.
Under the sanctions, the US wants all countries in the world to stop importing oil from Iran.
This has sparked concerns in New Delhi as Iran is a major supplier of crude oil to India.
According to Wells, expert-level discussions are going on between India and the US on issues related to crude oil exports from Iran and ways to bring those exports down.
Stating that these conversations are ongoing, she said that the US is "working very hard with our partners so that there are no disruptions in the market and adequate supply is available to substitute for Iranian oil".
But can India afford to forego crude supplies from Iran in the face of the spiralling oil prices? This is the next big foreign policy challenge for New Delhi.
The nomination of 54-year-old Pompeo now heads to the Senate for a vote on his confirmation.
Pompeo, if confirmed by the Senate, would replace Rex Tillerson as the Secretary of State. Tillerson was fired by Trump last month.
During a tense Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting, Pompeo was voted 11-9. In addition to all the Republican Senators, Senator Chris Coons was the only Democratic Senator to have voted in support of Pompeo.
The White House welcomed the passage of the nomination.
"With Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo's favorable report from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the American people are one step closer to having their top diplomat in place at a critical time in our history," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.
"Under President Donald J. Trump's leadership, the United States is on a path toward a safer, more prosperous future. Secretary-designate Pompeo is an integral part of the President's vision going forward. We look forward to the full Senate confirming him in the coming days, Sanders said.
Coons displayed a "statesmanship that I'm not accustomed to seeing in the Senate," said Senator Bob Corker, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Earlier in the day, Republican Senator Rand Paul, who had earlier announced to oppose Pompeo, said that he has now changed his mind and would support the nomination.
"Having received assurances from President Trump and Director Pompeo that he agrees with the President on these important issues, I have decided to support his nomination to be our next Secretary of State," Paul said.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio welcomed the development.
"CIA Director Mike Pompeo has the full confidence of the President, an outstanding record of service to our country, and is more than qualified to serve as Secretary of State. As Director Pompeo's nomination now moves to the Senate Floor, I strongly urge my colleagues to put country over party and confirm him without further delay," he said.
Senator Johnny Isakson, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, who voted by proxy said that Pompeo is prepared to lead the State Department.
"Employees at the CIA have given Mike Pompeo high marks for his performance, his support for the workforce and advocacy for their mission. The State Department needs that same energy, fire and purposeful direction today, at a time when our country faces numerous threats and challenges that demand strong diplomacy," he said.
"Pompeo has already stepped into a leadership role in delicate negotiations on North Korea and I expect him to remain committed to leveraging our unique assets and employing US diplomatic leadership as much as possible to achieve our goals. I believe Mike Pompeo is prepared to lead," Isakson said.
On the Senate Floor, Senator John Cornyn said that defeating a Secretary of State nominee would be extraordinary, historically speaking, and it would send a terrible message to American friends and allies around the world.
"Every Secretary of State nominee since 1925 has been reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favourably. For the ones who flip-flopped in the matter of a year on Mike Pompeo as a human being, as a public servant, and as somebody well-trained and well-prepared to be the nation's top diplomat, I just simply don't understand how they can reconcile those two polar opposite positions," he added.
Pompeo made the remarks during his keynote address to the India Ideas Summit of the US-India Business Council in Washington on Wednesday.
The Secretary of State is scheduled to visit New Delhi later this month. "I'm looking forward to exploring what's possible between our two peoples," he has said.
Preaching the gospel of free enterprise and free trade, Pompeo has called for deepening cooperation between the two nations through a relationship of "true equals, not of domination" that recognises "unique strategic challenges".
"We must embrace that strategic framework that works for both of our nations.
"Our two nations have an incredibly unique opportunity to move forward together, for the good of both of our peoples, the Indo-Pacific region, and indeed the entire world," he added.
Outlining President Donald Trump's economic agenda for India, Pompeo said: "We also have to make sure that we have economic openness. We have to have a central theme being the idea that we have liberty and sovereignty in each of our two nations, and build on those ideas.
"These need to be places in which economic growth reinforces our democratic values, and not dictatorship. It needs to be a place where our partnership is one of true equals, not of domination.
"Based on my conversations in New Delhi last year, and in subsequent phone calls and meetings, I believe this is a deeply shared vision," he added.
Pompeo also glossed over differences between the two countries, past and present, with his emphasis on equality and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region where both nations share strategic concerns.
"I'm sure we'll broach some tough topics too," he said. "But as we democracies have come to know, that we work out our disagreements. We bring them to the table honestly and fairly. And we'll probably discuss the recent decision on the GSP programme."
The General Scheme of Preferences (GSP), which gave some Indian exports preferential treatment, was ended last month by Trump, who accused it of failing to provide "equitable and reasonable access" for the US to its markets.
It is one of many trade, tariff and defence issues where the two countries are at loggerheads and Pompeo offered alternatives for India that would also benefit the US.
Last month, the US cancelled the exemption from sanctions it gave India for continuing to buy Iranian oil and Pompeo suggested solutions: "On energy, we want to complete the Westinghouse civil nuclear project, and deliver more LNG (liquid natural gas) and crude.
"These steps will give Indians reliable, affordable, diversified energy independence so they will no longer have to rely on difficult regimes like those in Venezuela and in Iran".
In defence matters, India could face US sanctions for purchasing the S-400 Russian missile defence system.
Pompeo did not mention the US alternative of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system or the top stealth jet fighter, the F-35, but said, "Lockheed Martin's F-21 and Boeing's F/A-18 are state-of-the-art fighters that could give India the capabilities it needs to become a full-fledged security provider throughout the Indo-Pacific".
He said that the NASA was working with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on "the world's most advanced earth-observation satellite" and India's second lunar mission and asked, "How cool is that?"
In the deeply-divided American politics, relations with India so far appear to have bipartisan support. Pointing to the presence of Kentucky's Republican Governor Matt Bevin and New Jersey's Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, he said, "We got a bipartisan agenda. It's fantastic".
Keeping up the bipartisan theme, he acknowledged the role of former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in building relations with India.
"President Clinton's visit in 2000 set a real marker, he set the table for closer cooperation between the two countries," and "President Obama granted India 'Major Defense Partner' status, and supported India's quest for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council -- a position that the US continues to support".
"And under President Trump, we've taken our defence cooperation to new heights, solidified our common vision for the Indo-Pacific, and taken a far tougher stand on Pakistan's unacceptable support for terrorism in the region," Pompeo said.
He also acknowledged the role of a Congress Party Prime Minister who ushered in economic liberalisation in 1991 that opened the way for closer ties with the US.
"Prime Minister (P.V. Narasimha) Rao said that at the time his government would, quote, 'sweep the cobwebs of the past and usher in change'," Pompeo said.
At the same time, he couldn't resist taking a dig at Rao's predecessors, Jawharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, or Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, whom he diplomatically did not name: "We couldn't trade much because India had a closed economy. The License Raj kept businesses and innovators out of the black and covered in red tape. Five-year plans became the received wisdom, something like our two percent growth here in the last administration became sort of a new normal."
Without being critical, he mentioned that in period after gaining freedom, India "cherished independence through the non-aligned movement".
"India's free-market reforms unleashed the innovation, the entrepreneurship, the sheer drive of its own people to do remarkable things."
That led to a seven per cent growth in India from 1997 to 2017, year-on-year lifting millions of Indians have been lifted out of poverty, while the country became a world leader in information technology, engineering and pharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, the US-India bilateral trade reached $142 billion last year -- a seven-fold increase since 2001 -- with Washington accounting for 20 per cent of New Delhi's goods and services exports.
More than 500 American companies now successfully operate in India and the nation's prosperity "has helped propel Indians to every corner of the Earth", he said.
"Indian-Americans too have contributed mightily to things that happened here in the US," Pompeo said. "We've watched Indians reach the heights of industry, academia and government. People like Microsoft's CEO (Satya Nadella), and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) chairman Ajit Pai, a great Kansan, have done remarkable things all around the world."
Pompeo however, did not mention Google CEO Sundar Pichai, whose company Trump has accused of partisanship.
Before the session with Pompeo, USIBC President Nisha Biswal had presented the organisation's Global Leadership award to Pichai.
Giving a "sneak preview" of his upcoming visit to New Delhi later this month to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the new External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Pompeo said both countries should build ever-stronger relationships.
Noting that the US has a long bond with India, Pompeo said time has come to forge more stronger ties. He said both sides should formalise these individual friendships, building out a diplomatic framework for the two countries.
"As Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi said in his latest (election) campaign, 'Modi hai to mumkin hai,' (Modi makes it possible), I'm looking forward to exploring what's possible between our people," Pompeo said in his major India policy speech at the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council here on Wednesday.
Pompeo listed out some of the "big ideas and big opportunities" that can take the Indo-US bilateral relationship to a new level.
Pompeo said he truly believes the two nations have a unique opportunity to move forward together for the good of their peoples, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world.
Pompeo will travel to India, Sri Lanka, Japan and South Korea from June 24 to 30. His four-nation is aimed at deepening US partnerships in the strategic Indo-Pacific region where China is flexing its military muscles.
China has been trying to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific, which is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the sea.
Pompeo said under President Donald Trump, the US has taken defence cooperation to newer heights, solidified their common vision for the Indo-Pacific and taken a far tougher stand on Pakistan's unacceptable support for terrorism.
Now the Trump and Modi Administrations have a "unique opportunity to take this special partnership even further", Pompeo said he has a strong partner in his new counterpart, Jaishankar a former Indian ambassador to the United States.
"He said in a speech in April that he's ready to cultivate warmer relations with America and the feeling is mutual. We want to move ahead," he said and enumerated how that can be done.
First, the two countries have to build ever-stronger relationships, he said.
"Forging strong ties means formalizing these individual friendships. Last year, we kicked off the '2+2 dialogue' alongside the Department of Defence. We've also reinvigorated the Quad Dialogue among India, the United States, Japan, and Australia all like-minded democracies in the Indo-Pacific. These are all good steps," he said.
India and the US, he said, must embrace the strategic framework that works for both the nations. "We respect India as a sovereign power, with its own unique politics and strategic challenges. We realise it's different to deal with the likes of China or Pakistan from across an ocean than across a border," he said.
Making a strong case for a free and open Indo-Pacific, he said it starts from the premise that the two share common values of democracy, freedom, and a belief in the ingenuity of the human spirit. "It's only natural that the world's most populous democracy should partner with the world's oldest democracy to maintain their shared vision for the Indo-Pacific."
"Third, we have to deliver," Pompeo said.
The Trump Administration has already enabled American companies to export more high technology items to India, including cutting-edge defence platforms like armed UAVs and ballistic missile defence systems. "We've already launched the Asia-EDGE programme, to help India raise private capital to meet its energy security and access needs," he said.
"These are solid achievements, but we want to do much more. We clearly have overlapping interests in defence, energy, and space," said the top American diplomat.
Pompeo said the first batch of India's Apache helicopters are coming off Boeing's production line in Arizona. Lockheed Martin's F-21s and Boeing's F/A-18s are state-of-the-art fighters that could give India the capabilities it needs to become a full-fledged security provider in the Indo-Pacific region.
"On energy, we want to complete the Westinghouse civil nuclear project, and deliver more American LNG and crude," he said adding that these steps will give India reliable and abundant energy and help reduce dependence on regimes like Iran and Venezuela.
On space, NASA is already working with the Indian Space Research Organisation on the world's most advanced earth-observation satellite and India's second lunar mission.
But differences remain in some of the key trade and business issues, he acknowledged. "But we remain open to dialogue and hope our Indian friends will drop their trade barriers and trust in the competitiveness of their exporters and private-sector companies," he said.
Pompeo said the US will also push for the free flow of data across borders not just to help American companies but to protect data and ensure consumer privacy.
The US is eager to help India establish secure communications networks including 5G networks, he said.
By Lalit K Jha
"There is enormous potential to grow our trade relationship and create the high-quality jobs that Prime Minister Modi wants if India lowers trade barriers and embraces fair and reciprocal trade," according to a State Department Fact Sheet.
Bilateral trade is likely to be an important topic of discussion during Pompeo's talks with the Indian leadership.
US companies see great opportunity in India, and increased economic openness and investment will yield mutual benefit.
"The Trump Administration is working to ensure that American companies operating in India have the same level playing field that Indian companies enjoy in the United States," it said.
The State Department said as India's number one overseas market, the US purchases close to one-fifth of its exports. India is also the fastest growing major market for US goods.
Two-way bilateral goods and services trade with India totalled USD 142 billion in 2018, up 12.6 per cent, or almost USD16 billion, over the previous year.
US crude oil exports to India are surging, increasing India's energy security while reducing its bilateral trade deficit.
The United States exported nearly 50 million barrels of crude to India in 2018, compared to less than 10 million barrels in 2017, and is on pace to export even greater volumes in 2019, it said.
US defense sales to India are estimated to reach approximately USD18 billion by 2019 from near zero in 2008, boosting India's national security capabilities and increasing employment in both countries, it said.
Pompeo, who arrived here Tuesday night, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the morning and discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship.
"Working together to further deepen our strategic partnership. Secretary Pompeo called on PM Narendra Modi to exchange views on various aspects of Indo-US relationship. PM will meet President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 Osaka Summit," Kumar tweeted with pictures of the Modi-Pompeo meeting.
The US Secretary of State's talks with the Indian leadership are the first high-level interaction between the two countries after the return of the Modi government to power last month.
Pompeo's visit comes ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, later this week.
Ahead of the strategically-important India-US talks, diplomatic sources on Tuesday said India meets the US waiver criteria for procuring the S-400 missile defence system from sanctions-hit Russia, and asserted that New Delhi cannot "wish away" its defence ties with Moscow.
The details of the Jaishankar-Pompeo meeting were immediately not known, but India's missile defence system deal with Russia, terrorism, H-1B visas, trade and the situation arising out of US sanctions on buying oil from Iran, were likely to be discussed during the talks.
Jaishankar is in the Thailand capital to attend a number of conferences, including the ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting, the 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the 26th ASEAN Regional Forum and the 10th Mekong Ganga Cooperation Ministerial Meeting.
"Held wide ranging discussions with @SecPompeo on regional issues," Jaishankar tweeted.
"Have conveyed to American counterpart @SecPompeo this morning in clear terms that any discussion on Kashmir, if at all warranted, will only be with Pakistan and only bilaterally," he tweeted.
He met US Secretary of State Pompeo on the sidelines of the second day of 9th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers meet in Bangkok. This was the first official meeting between the two top officials after President Trump's controversial comments on him mediating between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
"Contrary to press reporting, the Indian government did not consult or inform the US Government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status," the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the US State Department posted on Twitter, signed by Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells.
Some media reports had claimed that Jaishankar had spoken about the move to change Jammu and Kashmir's status by revoking Article 370 with Pompeo during their meeting in Bangkok on the sidelines of the ASEAN-led multilaterals and even earlier. One report had said that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had spoken to his US counterpart John Bolton on the issue, and that the US was well prepared.
On Tuesday, in a cautious statement, the US said it has taken note of India's move to change the status of Jammu and Kashmir and that New Delhi has described it as "strictly an internal matter".
State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus voiced concern over reports of the detention of some Kashmiri leaders, and urged "respect for individual rights" and talks with those affected.
The US also urged for peace and stability along the Line of Control.
The statement read: "We are closely following the events in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. We take note of India's announcement revising the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir and India's plan to split the state into two union territories.
"We note that the Indian government has described these actions as strictly an internal matter.
"We are concerned about reports of detentions and urge respect for individual rights and discussion with those in affected communities.
"We call on all parties to maintain peace and stability along the Line of Control," the statement said.
On Monday, the Central government scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir and converted the state into a Union Territory with a legislature. It also split the state by hiving off Ladakh region and making it into a Union Territory without a legislature.
"No", replied State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus when asked by reporters if there has been any change in America's policy on Kashmir.
The US policy has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and it is up to the two countries to decide on the pace and scope of the talks on the issue.
"And if there was, I certainly wouldn't be announcing it here, but no, there's not," Ortagus said in response to a follow up question.
She said the United States supports dialogue between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.
"It's something that we've called for calm and restraint by all parties. We want to main peace and stability, and we, of course, support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on Kashmir and other issues of concern," the US State Department spokesperson said.
India had on Monday revoked provisions of Article 370 to take away Jammu and Kashmir's special status, and bifurcating the state into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Ortagus said the US was working closely with the two South Asian countries.
"We have a lot of engagement with India and Pakistan. Obviously, we just had Prime Minister Khan here, not just because of Kashmir. That's certainly an incredibly important issue and something that we follow closely. But we have a host of issues that we work with India on quite closely and that we work with Pakistan on quite closely," she said.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Bangkok last week.
Responding to a question on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir, Ortagus said, "I really don't want to go beyond what we've said, because it's such a tenuous issue. It's something that we're talking to them about quite closely."
"The United States, whenever it comes to any region in the world where there are tensions, asks for people to observe the rule of law, respect for human rights, respect for international norms. We ask people to maintain peace and security and direct dialogue," she said.
The State Department spokesperson said the US was closely monitoring the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"There are reports, as you've mentioned, of detentions and restrictions of residents in Jammu and in Kashmir. And again, that's why we continue to monitor this very, very closely," she said.
Ortagus reiterated earlier statements that the US was not consulted and informed by India about its decision on scrapping articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution.
"There was no heads up given," she said.
Successive US administrations' policy have been to encourage India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue.
The Trump administration has insisted that Pakistan needs to create conducive conditions for talks by taking irreversible and decisive actions against terrorist and militant groups operating from its soil.
Meanwhile, after Acting Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, another senior US diplomat is heading to India.
The visit was pre-scheduled but it would be used to discuss the current issues, Ortagus said.
"Deputy Secretary of State John J Sullivan will travel to Thimphu, Bhutan, and New Delhi, August 11 through 17th to advance the United States partnership with two nations that are critical to preserving the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region," the US State Department spokesperson said.
In Bhutan, she said, Sullivan will explore expanding and deepening the ties with the government and people of Bhutan.
The deputy secretary will be the highest-level executive branch official from the United States to visit Bhutan in over two decades, Ortagus added.
She said Sullivan will then travel to New Delhi to advance the "broad and multifaceted" US-India Strategic Partnership, which is based on a shared commitment to democratic values, economic growth and rule of law.
"There, the deputy secretary will meet Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar and address the India-US Forum," Ortagus said.
Democrat Representative Tom Suozzi, who met about 100 Indian Americans on Sunday, said in a statement on Monday: "I am sorry. If I had met with them before sending the letter, I would have framed my concerns differently."
"Based upon my meeting, it is clear that it was a mistake to not consult some of my Indian-American friends and supporters before I sent the letter. I should have."
The meeting took place after a barrage of criticism from his Indian American constituents for his letter to Pompeo.
Suozzi's Congressional constituency covers parts of New York City's borough of Queens and neighbouring Long Island, which have a sizable population of Indian descent. Many of them have supported his election campaigns.
State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus laid out the official position of the US on India scaling back Kashmir's special status saying that it was the country's internal matter.
Suozzi's letter to Pompeo was apparently influenced by Pakistani Americans and by his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during his recent visit to Washington.
In the letter, Suozzi had written that India's action on Kashmir, "could also embolden extremists and terrorists to act" and that it risked "provoking mass social unrest".
Before the meeting with the Indian community at a facility for Indian seniors, Indian-American lawyer and community leader Ravi Batra, who had been a leading critic of Souzzi's letter to Pompeo, tweeted: "Unless you are going to withdraw your myopic letter to @SecPompeo, which ill-serves the "best interests" of the US, and hence, is Un-American, cancel this meeting as democracy isn't about getting folks to kiss-the-ring."
In his statement, Suozzi said: "India-US relations will be one of our most important for the next 50 years and beyond. I have spent my time promoting and elevating this relationship and will continue to do so.
"India, the world's largest democracy, remains critical for regional peace and security. The current situation in Kashmir presents some very serious challenges. The US should seek to be helpful in securing safety and peace for all people."
After Suozzi's apology, Batra said: "I welcome Tom's candid admission of error, and while it implicitly amends his Letter to Secretary Pompeo, a follow-up letter to the Secretary is in order to set the record right, and I urge him to do so forthwith."
"This is a teaching moment for all elected representatives to not pander to one slice or another of one's constituents as local partisan politics is a far cray from serving the 'best interests' of the US," he added.
Greeting the people of India on the eve of the country's 73rd Independence Day, Pompeo said the shared democratic values of the two nations, strong people-to-people ties and commitment to economic growth had further cemented the relationship.
"Over the past two decades, our friendship has flourished into a strategic partnership and we now cooperate on a range of important issues, from defence and counter-terrorism, to freedom of navigation and cutting-edge science, including in space," Pompeo said in a statement.
"As I said during my recent visit to India, the United States and India are great democracies, global powers, and good friends. I wish the people of India a joyful Independence Day," he said.
During his visit to India in June, Pompeo also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who outlined his vision for the Indo-US strategic partnership in the new tenure of his government.
The prime minister expressed his strong commitment to achieve the full potential of bilateral relations in trade and economy, energy, defence, counter-terrorism and people- to-people contacts.
Pompeo expressed the US government's continued interest in building stronger relations with India and working together to realise the shared vision and goals.
In a letter to Pompeo dated September 11, Pramila Jayapal, the first and the only Indian-American Congresswoman in the House of Representatives, and Congressman James P McGovern said the international media and independent human rights observers must immediately be allowed into Jammu and Kashmir to investigate reports of abuse.
"We urge you to work across the Administration to press the Indian Government to immediately end its communications blackout of Kashmir, expedite the process of reviewing and releasing individuals 'preventatively' detained, ensure hospitals have access to life-saving medicines and protect the rights of the Kashmiri people to freedom of assembly and worship," reads the letter.
The two lawmakers told Pompeo that they have significant concerns about the humanitarian and human rights "crisis" in Kashmir.
"In particular, we are concerned about credible reports from journalists and advocates on the ground that the Indian government has detained thousands of people with no recourse, imposed defacto curfews and cut off internet and telephone access on the region," they said.
Restrictions were imposed when New Delhi had on August 5 scrapped the state's special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated in into Union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
"We also urged the Indian Government at its highest levels to make it clear that religious tolerance long a principle of Indian history and democracy must be upheld," the two lawmakers wrote in the letter.
Tagging the letter in a tweet, Jayapal said: "I continue to be deeply concerned about credible reports of a humanitarian crisis in Jammu & Kashmir. Even in complex situations, we look to strong democratic allies like India to uphold basic human rights and due process."
Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians of Jammu and Kashmir have been taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders, including two former chief ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have been either detained or placed under house arrest in view of the Centre's decision to revoke special status to Jammu and Kashmir and splitting the state into two Union Territories.
"We continue to press for the release of detainees for the full restoration of everyday services, but most importantly, for a roadmap to the restoration of political and economic normalcy," said Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice G Wells.
The US remains "deeply concerned" about the situation in the Valley where daily life of nearly eight million residents has been severely impacted since the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status and to "detain without charge" political leaders and restrict communications, Wells said in an interaction with reporters at Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.
"We've seen progress, for example, four million postpaid mobile phone users have had service restored, but SMS and internet is restricted," she said.
Internet services across all platforms continued to be snapped in the Valley since the night of August 4, hours before the Centre announced its decision to abrogate Article 370 provisions that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and split the state into two UTs, officials in Srinagar said.
The internet services were snapped along with mobile and landline telephone services. While the landline telephone services were restored gradually first, the postpaid mobile services were restored only last week. The prepaid services continued to remain barred.
Noting that journalists have extensively covered developments in Kashmir, Wells said the role of some of the international reporters have been particularly important, but journalists continue to face challenges in access while reporting due to the security restrictions.
Wells said terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen "obviously are the problem".
"In this vein, we welcome (Pakistan) Prime Minister (Imran) Khan's unambiguous statement in September that anyone who crosses from Pakistan to carry out violence in Kashmir are enemies of both Pakistan and the Kashmiri people," she said.
"The constructive dialogue that we'd like to see between India and Pakistan must be based on Pakistan taking sustained and irreversible steps against militants and terrorists in its territory," Wells said.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have met and spoken with their Indian and Pakistani counterparts multiple times and all sides have the responsibility to create the conditions in Kashmir for dialogue including avoiding heated and unhelpful rhetoric, she said.
Asked by a reporter about Washington's reaction to the CAA, Pompeo said: "We honour Indian democracy as they have a robust debate inside of India on the issue that you raised, and the US will be consistent in the way that we respond to these issues, not only in India but all across the world.
"We care deeply and always will about protecting minorities, protecting religious rights everywhere."
At a joint news conference attended by Pompeo, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister after their 2+2 Strategic Dialogue in Washington on Wednesday, the reporter asked Jaishankar: "Why make religion a factor in deciding who gets fast-tracked for citizenship?"
Defending the CAA, Jaishankar explained: "If you had followed the debate on that particular legislation carefully, you would see that it is a measure which is designed to address the needs of persecuted religious minorities from certain countries.
"If you look at where - what those countries are, and therefore what the minorities are, perhaps you'd get - you'd understand why certain religions were identified in terms of categorising those who had come across."
So far, President Donald Trump's administration has not taken a stand on the CAA, although the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said last week that it was "deeply troubled" by it, adding that Washington should sanction Home Minister Amit Shah.
But the Commission does not have the power to sanction anyone or any government but can make recommendations that can be followed up by the government or Congress.
The CAA aims to give refuge and faster citizenship to give refuge to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains fleeing religious persecution from the officially Islamic Pakistan and Afghanistan and Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
(IANS)
By Friday, more than 78,000 Americans had died and 13 lakh tested positive for the coronavirus. Globally, more than 274,000 people have died and 39 lakh have tested positive for the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
"I have seen a significant amount of evidence that suggests that the lab was underperforming, that there were security risks at the lab and that the virus could well have emanated from there," Pompeo told Ben Shapiro in an interview on Friday.
"But I am happy to suspend the decision about that. What we need are answers. There are still people dying," he said.
The American economy and that of the rest of the world have come to a standstill.
"We have got an economy now that is really struggling and it is all a direct result of the Chinese Communist Party covering up, hiding information, having doctors who wanted to tell the story about where this began, how patient zero was formed and how it emanated from that person, and yet we cannot get those answers," Pompeo said.
"Even now, 120-plus days on from the Chinese Communist Party knowing about this virus, they continue to hide and obfuscate the data from the American people and from the world's best scientists," he said.
It is pretty astounding, Pompeo said, when asked if the Chinese government is attempting to stymie any sort of investigation into what happened in the country.
"Whether it was the Australians who simply said, 'Boy, we need an investigation,' the ambassador there - the Chinese ambassador to Australia - said, 'Well, we are going to threaten you economically.' We have seen them do the same thing to the EU, when they were about to put out a statement, began to put economic pressure on them," he said.
"This is the worst of Chinese adventurism. We have seen this. We have seen the Chinese Communist Party do this before, threaten small countries, use economic power to exert their influence," Pompeo said.
"It is not how nations that want to truly be transparent, truly be part of the international system -- it is not how they behave. I regret that they have done it because we still have an ongoing crisis. We still do not know where this virus began other than to say we know it came out of Wuhan," he said.
China has denied covering up the extent of its coronavirus outbreak and accused the US of attempting to divert public attention by insinuating that the virus originated from a virology laboratory in Wuhan.
"China was the first country to report the COVID-19 to the World Health Organisation (WHO), (and) that doesn't mean the virus originated from Wuhan," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said last month, dismissing US Pompeo's charge that China was hiding the COVID-19 data.
"Epidemic may break out first anywhere in the world. But its origin is a matter of science and we should leave it to science and medical community," said Zhao, who earlier created a storm by alleging on March 12 that the US Army may have brought the virus to Wuhan, leading to a diplomatic protest by Washington.
(With agency inputs)
Listing Jio among the "world's leading" telecom operators, Pompeo said on Wednesday that it was one of the "Clean Telcos" for spurning Huawei, which he called a part of the "Chinese Communist Party (CCP) infrastructure."
Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani had told US President Donald Trump during his February visit to India that Jio was the only network in the world to not have a single Chinese component.
Jio is reportedly trying the 'swadeshi' route for 5G and has applied to the Department of Telecommunications for permission to carry out lab tests for the technology without third-party participation.
Facebook announced a $5.7 billion investment in Jio in April.
Pompeo said that by Jio along with some other Canadian, British and French telecoms was "disconnecting from the Chinese Communist Party infrastructure" by not using Huawei equipment.
"They are rejecting doing business with tools of the CCP surveillance state, companies like Huawei," he added while speaking to the media before the release of the State Department's annual terrorism report.
The US campaign against the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer over fears its gear can be used for espionage has intensified as the company begins its push into the next-generation 5G networks.
According to US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brian, Huawei is able to access sensitive and personal information wherever its equipment is installed and "by law, must comply with directives of the Chinese Communist Party" making networks using it vulnerable to Beijing's surveillance.
Trump had brought up the security concerns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the February visit in a bid to stop Huawei's inroads into India's 5G networks.
Trump told reporters after meeting Modi, "We discussed the importance of a secure 5G wireless network and the need for this emerging technology to be a tool for freedom, progress, prosperity, not to do anything with which it could be even conceived as a conduit for suppression and censorship."
The Trump administration has put a series of sanctions on Huawei to cut off its access to US technology to develop or manufacture its systems.
In the latest action against it, Washington barred the use of US equipment and software by companies anywhere to produce components for Huawei.
Short for fifth-generation cellular network, 5G is capable of being more than 25 times faster than the 4G network and it has applications in manufacturing and in future technologies like self-driving cars.
(IANS)
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Pompeo made those remarks in response to a question during the virtual Brussels Forum 2020 of the German Marshall Fund.
"We're going to make sure we're postured appropriately to counter the PLA. We think that the challenge of our times, and we're going to make sure we have resources in place to do that," Pompeo said.
The force posture review is being done at the direction of President Donald Trump, as part of which the US is reducing the number of its troops in Germany from about 52,000 to 25,000, he said.
Pompeo said that the force posture would be dictated by the ground realities.
"In certain places, there will be fewer American resources. There'll be other places - I just talked about the threat from the Chinese Communist Party, so now threats to India, threats to Vietnam, threats to Malaysia, Indonesia, South China Sea challenges, the Philippines," he said.
"To the extent that that changed, the difference in what the US decided to do impacts adversely a threat someplace, it may be that other nations need to step up and take responsibility for their own defence in ways that they hadn't done previously. So, we want to do this in full consultation with all of our partners all around the world, and certainly our friends in Europe," Pompeo said.
President Trump is being criticised for reducing troops from Germany. His critics say that this will increase the threat from Russia to Europe.
Pompeo, however, did not agree with that argument.
It has been a long time since there has been a strategic review of our force posture all across the world. The US undertook that starting about 2.5 years ago, whether that was our forces in Africa, our forces in Asia, the force we have in the Middle East and in Europe, he said.
"We began to say these are often decisions that were made in a different time. Should we reallocate those a different way? Should we have a different composition of those forces? Everyone always wants to talk about ground troops. I get it. I was a young tank officer. You described that. There's nothing I like as much as a good M1 tank.
"But it's often the case that the capacity to deter Russia or other adversaries isn't determined any longer by just having a bunch of folks garrisoned someplace. So, we really went to back fundamentally relook, what is the nature of the conflict, what's the nature of the threat, and how should we allocate our resources, whether that's our resources in the intelligence community, our resources from the Air Force or the Marines and Army," Pompeo said.
Last week, Pompeo criticised the Chinese Army for "escalating" the border tension with India and militarizing the strategic South China Sea. He also described the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) as a "rogue actor."
"Our broad set of allocation of security apparatus, our ability to counter cyber threats, how do we allocate them? What's the best way to do this? And the decision that you see the president made with respect to Germany is an outcome from a collective set of decisions about how we're going to posture our resources around the world," said the top American diplomat on Thursday.
Changes in force posture are being taken in consultations with allies and friends, Pompeo said.
"President Trump has spoken to this. (Defense ) Secretary (Mark) Esper will be in London today and in Brussels tomorrow. We'll talk about our plan and how we're thinking about delivering it," he said.
"But you should understand this, and I hope our European partners will understand this as well. When you see what we ultimately conclude, how we ultimately deliver on the statements of the president made, that they're aimed squarely at what we believe to be democracies' fundamental interest and certainly America's most fundamental interest," Pompeo said.
Earlier this month, Pompeo had said that China's actions, be it on the India border, or in Hong Kong or in the South China Sea, were part of the behaviour of the ruling Communist Party in Beijing in the recent past.
China has been fast expanding military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region, triggering concern in various countries of the region and beyond.
China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are vital to global trade.
(PTI)
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In a Fox News interview on Monday, Pompeo said that "we're taking this very seriously".
"With respect to Chinese apps on people's cell phones, I can assure you the US will get this one right too... I don't want to get out in front of the President (Donald Trump), but it's something we're looking at," he said in the interview.
India has already banned 59 Chinese apps, including TikTok, saying these apps opened the way for "elements hostile to national security and defence" to exploit them to "ultimately impinge upon the sovereignty and integrity of India".
Pompeo said people should only download the app "if you want your private information in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party".
TikTok which has a flourishing presence in the US was yet to comment.
TikTok, owned by China-based startup ByteDance, has been repeatedly criticized by US leaders "of being a threat to national security because of its ties to China".
Pompeo earlier welcomed India's move, saying the "clean app" policy will promote New Delhi's national security against the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) spying on the country.
"We welcome India's ban on certain mobile apps that can serve as appendages of the CCP's surveillance state. India's 'clean app' approach will boost India's sovereignty, and will also boost India's integrity and national security as the Indian government itself has stated," he said while briefing reporters in Washington earlier this month.
Nikki Haley, the first Indian-American to serve in the US cabinet, had also praised India's decision, saying New Delhi "is continuing to show it won't back down from China's aggression".
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the United States is "certainly looking at" banning Chinese social media apps, including #TikTok: Reuters
— OTV (@otvnews) July 7, 2020
(IANS)
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"The Indians have done their best to respond" to China's "incredibly aggressive action," which fits a pattern, Pompeo said at a news conference in Washington.
He said that he had spoken to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar several times about the Chinese aggression in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control last month.
He said that Beijing's attack on India has to be put in the context of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) "General Secretary Xi Jinping and his behaviour throughout the region, and indeed, throughout the world. I don't think it's possible to look at that particular instance of Chinese Communist Party aggression in isolation. I think you need to put it in the larger context".
After a Foreign Office Consultation between India and the US on Monday, the State Department said Jaishankar and Under Secretary of State David Hale discussed "ongoing threats" to the international order and agreed to "endeavour to support each other's objectives".
Pompeo referred to the boundary and maritime disputes launched by China from the Himalayas "to the waters of Vietnam's Exclusive Zone, to the Senkaku Islands, and beyond, calling them "unequalled anyplace else in the world."
"There aren't many neighbours that could satisfactorily say that they know where their sovereignty ends and that the Chinese Communist Party will respect that sovereignty. That's certainly true now for the people of Bhutan as well."
"The CCP recently filed a boundary dispute with Bhutan at a meeting of the Global Environment Facility," he said. "The world should not allow this bullying to take place, nor should it permit it to continue."
He that the US will soon start a dialogue with the European Union "on how we collectively can respond to this challenge from the Chinese Communist Party."
Pompeo said that President Donald Trump has taken the global threats from China "incredibly seriously," which he said previous US administrations had not.
"We will respond to this in a way that we think is appropriate, and we have attempted to communicate to the Chinese leadership that we are serious about this," he added.
(IANS)
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Mike Pompeo said, "India has a chance to divert global supply chains away from China and reduce reliance on Chinese companies in areas like telecom, medical supplies and others. India is in this position because it has earned the trust of many nations including the US."
Pompeo was addressing the India Ideas Summit.
In a reference to the India-China border standoff, Pompeo accused Beijing of bullying its neighbours and blamed it for instigating the deadly confrontation with India in eastern Ladakh.
He also referred to the recent clashes initiated by China's PLA calling them examples of the Communist Party of China's "unacceptable behaviour". He also expressed condolences on the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers in the Galwan valley clash.
"We think that the entire world needs to work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order.
"You cannot go make claims for maritime regions that you have no lawful claim to. You cannot threaten countries and bully them in the Himalayas. You cannot engage in cover-ups and co-opt international institutions like the World Health Organisation," the top US diplomat said earlier on Wednesday.
"The CPC's exploitation of this disaster to further its own interests has been disgraceful. Rather than helping the world, General Secretary Xi Jinping has shown the world the party's true face. We talked about how we have seen Hong Kong's freedoms crushed. We have watched the CPC bully its neighbours, militarise features in the South China Sea, and instigate a deadly confrontation with India," Pompeo said.
The top US diplomat urged the international community to "work together to ensure that every country, including China, behaves in the international system in ways that are appropriate and consistent with the international order".
He stressed on the need of international cooperation in the face of Chinese overreach. "Important that democracies like ours work together at a time when we see true scope of challenge posed by the Chinese Communist Party," he said.
"I am happy to report that India is a rising US defence and security partner in the Indo-Pacific and globally," he added.
Addressing the event, US Ambassador to India Ken Juster said, "No one wants to have conflict in the region (Indo-Pacific region). We want it to be an inclusive vision but we're going to need to work with trusted and likeminded partners to develop guidelines, redlines and other ways to fulfill the vision we share for the Indo-Pacific region."
Indian envoy to the US T.S. Sandhu said that President Donald Trump's visit to India in February this year has helped elevate the relationship to a comprehensive global strategic partnership. "The world has changed a lot since then. There has been expanded collaboration between our countries in health & vaccine development," he said.
(IANS)
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The amendments made in the longstanding foreign-produced direct product (FDP) rule restricts Huawei from obtaining foreign made chips developed or produced from US software or technology to the same degree as comparable US chips.
It also added another 38 Huawei affiliates in 21 countries to the Entity List, which imposes a license requirement for all items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and modified four existing Huawei Entity List entries. Huawei's affiliates in India have already been added to the Entity List.
"Huawei and its foreign affiliates have extended their efforts to obtain advanced semiconductors developed or produced from US software and technology in order to fulfill the policy objectives of the Chinese Communist Party, said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
"As we have restricted its access to US technology, Huawei and its affiliates have worked through third parties to harness US technology in a manner that undermines US national security and foreign policy interests. This multi-pronged action demonstrates our continuing commitment to impede Huawei's ability to do so, Ross said.
In a separate statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the United States has provided ample time for affected companies and persons primarily Huawei customers to identify and shift to other sources of equipment, software, and technology and wind-down their operations.
"Now that time is up. We will not tolerate efforts by the CCP to undermine the privacy of our citizens, our businesses' intellectual property, or the integrity of next-generation networks worldwide, he said.
"The Trump Administration sees Huawei for what it is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) surveillance state and we have taken action accordingly. Today, our government enacted several measures to protect US national security, our citizens' privacy, and the integrity of our 5G infrastructure from Beijing's malign influence, Pompeo said.
The Trump Administration, he said, is backing up its words with actions across the US Government. The Department of Justice has indicted Huawei for stealing US technology, conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, racketeering, and helping Iran to evade sanctions, amongst other charges, he added.
The Department of Commerce placed Huawei on the Entity List in 2019. The Department of State has engaged in vigorous diplomacy for more than a year to share what we know about Huawei and other untrustworthy vendors with allies and partners around the world, he said.
The new rules amended will prevent Huawei from circumventing US law through alternative chip production and provision of off-the-shelf (OTS) chips produced with tools acquired from the United States. This measure follows the more limited expansion of the Foreign Direct Product Rule in May, which Huawei has continuously tried to evade, he said.
(PTI)
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Pompeo landed in India on Monday along with his wife Susan, and US Secretary of Defence Mark T. Esper, even as the campaigning for the US presidential election reaches its final stage for the polls due on November 3.
Official sources said Doval had a very constructive meeting with Pompeo, as well as Esper, at the South Block.
They discussed a number of issues and challenges of strategic importance, the sources said, adding that both sides highlighted the need to take forward shared objectives and build capabilities across all domains so as to ensure a safe, stable and rule-based regional and global security environment.
In a statement released by the US Department of Defence, Esper met his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh ahead of the formal 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi on Monday.
Esper and Singh applauded the strength of the defence relationship between the US and India, and reinforced their commitment to deepening military-to-military cooperation, including joint-service cooperation; increasing secure communications capabilities; and enhancing mutual logistics engagements, the statement said.
The two leaders commended the conclusion of the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement during the visit, and welcomed the expansion of information-sharing.
From collaborating on emerging technologies to advancing defence trade priorities, Esper and Singh agreed to continue to work in partnership to address pressing global security challenges.
In his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday, Pompeo, according to the US Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown, welcomed the third US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in just over two years as a symbol of the strong partnership between the two countries.
"From addressing the shared challenges of Covid-19 and responding to regional security issues, to collaborating on vaccine development and economic prosperity, the Secretary and the Minister agreed that the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is critical to the security and prosperity of both countries, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world," the statement said.
Pompeo welcomed India's upcoming term on the UN Security Council and the opportunity for the US and India to work closely together on issues of mutual and global concern.
Both leaders looked forward to additional opportunities to further strengthen the US-India partnership.
(IANS)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and US Ambassador to India Ken Juster were also present during the meeting.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said the US secretaries conveyed greetings from President Donald Trump to the prime minister.
Recalling the successful visit of President Trump to India in February 2020, Prime Minister Modi warmly reciprocated the greetings, the statement said.
"Pleasure meeting @SecPompeo and @EsperDoD. Happy to see tremendous progress made in India-US relations and the results of the third 2+2 dialogue. Our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership stands on a firm foundation of shared principles and common strategic interests," Modi tweeted after the meeting.
The secretaries briefed the prime minister on their bilateral meetings and the fruitful and productive third India-US 2+2 dialogue held earlier in the day, the statement said.
They conveyed the US government's continued interest in building stronger relations with India and working together to realise the shared vision and goals, the PMO said.
Prime Minister Modi appreciated the successful conclusion of the third 2+2 Dialogue and expressed his satisfaction over the multifaceted growth in the bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership in recent years, it said.
The prime minister underlined the strong foundation of trust, shared values, and robust people-to-people ties between both countries, the statement said.
US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown said that during the meeting, Secretary Pompeo and Prime Minister Modi discussed several issues of regional and global concern on which the United States and India collaborate, including COVID-19 response, security and defence cooperation, and shared interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The secretary and the prime minister pledged to further strengthen the US-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership to better ensure the security and prosperity of both countries, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world, Brown said in a statement.
Secretary Pompeo and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the warm and close relationship between the two countries, which is rooted in their vibrant democratic traditions and fostered by strong ties between their citizens.
Jaishankar and Singh held the third edition of the 2+2 talks with US Secretary of State Pompeo and Defence Secretary Esper.
India and the US also signed the landmark defence pact, BECA, that will allow sharing of high-end military technology, geospatial maps and classified satellite data between their militaries.
At the 2+2 talks, the two sides also vowed to ramp up their security ties and boost strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific amidst China's growing economic and military clout in the region.
(PTI)
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