External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on January 22 during his visit to Washington, marking his first bilateral engagement under the Trump 2.0 administration. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of a Quad meeting, which brought together officials from India, the United States, Japan, and Australia to discuss regional security and cooperation.

Jaishankar raised critical issues during his discussions with Rubio, including the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh to safety of Indian diplomats in the United States, and the July 2023 arson attack on Indias consulate in San Francisco. The arson attack on our consulate in San Francisco is a very, very serious matter, and it is something [for which] we expect accountability, Jaishankar said during a press conference at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. He emphasized the need for justice, stating, We would like to see that people who did it are held responsible.

The attack, which occurred amid escalating tensions following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjara Canada-based leader of the Khalistan Tiger Forcehas been linked to pro-Khalistan extremists. Nijjar, one of Indias most-wanted terrorists, was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Canada in June 2023. Shortly after his death, videos surfaced online showing the arson at the San Francisco consulate, accompanied by the phrase violence begets violence and references to Nijjars killing. Videos showed arsonists setting fire to the consulate while chanting pro-Khalistan slogans. The incident had followed similar instances of attacks on Indian consulates in other countries like UK and Canada carried out by pro-Khalistani elements.

At the time, Jaishankar had called on countries including the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia to curb Khalistani activities, warning that their radical ideology was detrimental to bilateral relations. The US strongly condemned the attack, with Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti recently highlighting that the FBI had prioritized the investigation. However, more than 18 months later, no significant updates have been shared regarding the perpetrators or any legal actions taken.

During the press conference, Jaishankar was questioned about whether the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh had been discussed in his meeting with Rubio. He confirmed that the issue was briefly addressed but refrained from disclosing details, deeming it inappropriate to discuss publicly.

Jaishankars visit to the US also included participation in a Quad meeting and interactions with key members of the Trump 2.0 administration. These discussions reflect Indias ongoing efforts to enhance its strategic partnerships and address critical challenges, including regional security and the safety of its diplomatic missions abroad.