Phone conversation on January 24 included H-1B, China and Pakistan.
In his first conversation with President Donald Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his country’s concerns on the proposed changes in H-1B rules, The Indian Express reported.
Trump assured Modi that India’s views would be given consideration, the English daily reported.
Trump and Modi also discussed the issues related to the South China Sea and Pakistan-based terrorist outfits. Trump raised United States’ interest in making sure the freedom of navigation in international waters of South China Sea, some of which are currently claimed by China as its own.
The newspaper added, “Modi raised the issue of cross-border terrorism as a challenge confronting India’s growth, and peace and security in the region.”
The Indian prime minister was the fifth world leader Trump spoke to after entering the White House. So far, only the White House issued an official statement regarding this conversation that said, “The two discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the US and India in broad area such as the economy and defense.”
The Indian Express said that Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar also raised the H-1B issue during his visits to New York during the Trump transition process. Jaishankar also met the then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence and Newt Gingrich, who is one of Trump’s advisors now.