US PRESIDENT Donald Trump extended Diwali greetings in a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who expected both India and the US to continue to “illuminate” the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms. The phone conversation, initiated by the US President, came days after he claimed that PM Modi told him that India will stop buying Russian crude oil. Following Trump’s comments, India suggested that there was no such conversation.

 

“Thank you, President Trump, for your phone call and warm Diwali greetings. On this festival of lights, may our two great democracies continue to illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms,” Modi said on X. Official sources said Pakistan was not discussed during the phone conversation. It was the third publicly known phone call between Modi and Trump since September 16 that came amid continuing strains inIndia-US relations overWashington slapping 50 per centtariffs on Indian goods, includinga 25 per cent levies for New Delhi’sprocurement of Russian oil. On Tuesday night, Trump hosted a Diwali celebration that wasattended by Indian ambassadorto US Vinay Kwatra and several prominent Indian-origin business leaders. In his remarks at the ceremony, Trump repeated his claim thatIndia will not buy crude oil fromRussia. The US President alsodescribed PM Modi as a “great leader” and a “friend” besidesreferring to his trade-focuseddiplomacy to de-escalate tensions between India andPakistan.