The first engagement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi before his mega meeting with US President Donald Trump was with Tulsi Gabbard who was just confirmed by the US Senate to head the Directorate of National Intelligence.
The unusual engagement took place a few minutes after PM Modi arrived in the US capital. The meeting could be termed as unusual since spy chiefs do not usually meet with world leaders in public. However this works well for Bharat as it looks to enhance Intelligence cooperation with the United States.
Following the meeting, PM Modi said on X, ‘Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary.’
Enhancing Intelligence cooperation
In a complex world in which India has many adversaries, Intelligence plays a very crucial role. Sharing Intelligence with the United States and vice-versa augurs well for the Intelligence community of both countries.
It is also important to note that there have been occasions on which India has been suspicious of the Intelligence flowing out of the United States. For instance one glaring example of a lapse was during the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. Many had wondered why the US did not tip off India about the visits made by David Headley who was the reconnaissance in chief for the attack. Further the suspicion grew when it was found out that Headley was in fact a CIA asset in Afghanistan, but had turned rogue. It was slightly hard to believe that the CIA did not have wind of all this.
However those are things in the past and today both countries could look to better Intelligence sharing capabilities. There are plenty of adversaries in the form of Islamic terror groups, the Khalistanis, the anti-India sentiment brewing in Bangladesh at the behest of the ISI and also suspicious Chinese activities in several northeastern states.
The Intelligence shared by the US would help the agencies in India a great deal to deal with such issues. Further in the wake of the growing menace of cyber crime and narcotic smuggling, Intelligence sharing becomes crucial.
Gabbard will not just be America’s chief spook. She is now a cabinet level official who will have an oversight of 19 Intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The NSA in fact has been one of the most secretive agencies that it was once called as No Such Agency.
Gabbard would also serve as the principal advisor to the US President and the National Security Council on all matters relating to Intelligence. She would also be the one who prepares the President’s daily brief, which is a classified document of the latest Intelligence from across the world. This is among the first things that the President reads in the morning.
On Pakistan Army and Bangladesh
Tulsi Gabbard has been vocal about the issues in Bangladesh and also the notorious Pakistan army. Tulsi Gabbard the first Hindu Congresswoman in the US has often condemned the atrocities against the Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
In 2021, she had moved a resolution in the US Congress for protection of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. She also attacked the Pakistan army for cruelty against the Hindus in 1971.
She noted how more than 50 yers ago, the Pakistan army killed, tortured and drove thousands of Bengali Hindus from their homes in Bangladesh. She said that nearly 3 million people were killed during the systematic targeting of Hindus.
She has also spoken about how Pakistan continues to allow its terrorists to used by terrorists operating in India, Afghanistan and other nations.
In Congress, I’ve worked to cut back US assistance for Pakistan, particularly any military assistance, and increase pressure on Pakistan to stop these dangerous actions and break these ties, she had said.
“The recent rise of violence against Indians, Hindus, Sikhs, and other religious and ethnic minorities is deeply concerning. In the 115th Congress, we will continue our work to increase awareness and understanding across our communities, and urge the department of justice to investigate these horrific acts and address the rise of hate crimes across the country,” she had said while highlighting the violence against the Indian minorities.
Now that she is the Director of National Intelligence, both Bangladesh and Pakistan would have to be watchful. She would keep a close eye on elements in both these nations and could give Pakistan and Bangladesh enough cause to worry about. The agencies in India too would benefit from the Intelligence that the US would share and this could be used to enhance capabilities while dealing with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
A staunch Hindu
Tulsi Gabbard’s mother, born on the US mainland had embraced Hinduism and raised her children in the tradition. Tulsi is a lifelong vegetarian and had swore her oath to enter Congress on the Bhagavad Gita.
Tulsi Gabbard’s embrace of Hinduism, stemming from her mother’s conversion to Gaudiya Vaishnavism has drawn her to India. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to recognise the spiritual ties and invited her to India in 2014. During the visit, she presented PM Modi a personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita which she had read from her childhood and also the one on which she had taken oath.
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