On Tuesday, Jaishankar and Rubio convened at the Freedom 250 reception in Mumbai, where the former thanked the latter for placing a wreath at the Taj Hotel’s 26/11 memorial—an act that underscored India’s resolve to defend itself against terrorism.
Jaishankar welcomed the U.S. decision to extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure in the 2002 Kashmir terrorist attack, noting it as a concrete step toward a joint counter‑terrorism strategy.
He warned that the global order is shifting and urged partners to adapt by strengthening defense, commerce, technology and energy ties, adding that “expanding our convergence is key to deepening our ties.”
Rubio, accompanied by US Ambassador Sergio Gor, acknowledged India’s role in Indo‑Pacific stability, saying the meeting “reinforced our shared commitment to a secure region.”
The event, timed with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, highlighted the historic trade links that began with the ice trade and now extend into joint tech and security initiatives. India plans to launch joint counter‑terrorism exercises in the coming months, while the U.S. will finalize the extradition paperwork within the next two weeks.