US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard arrived in Delhi on Sunday for a crucial three-day visit, where she is set to meet Indian National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, with Bangladesh expected to be a key topic of discussion.
During this trip, she will also attend a high-level summit of intelligence chiefs from various countries, reports Bangla Tribune's Delhi correspondent.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in February, he met separately with Tulsi Gabbard, describing her as a "strong supporter of robust India-US relations." Gabbard, in turn, expressed deep respect for the India-US partnership.
Gabbard’s 'sympathy' towards Hindus
Gabbard is a practising Hindu, despite not being of Indian descent.
Her mother, Carol Porter Gabbard, converted to Hinduism and named her children accordingly—Bhakti, Jai, Arya, and Vrindavan.
When President Trump nominated Gabbard for the DNI position, an old video of her chanting "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna" went viral.
Gabbard has consistently expressed solidarity and empathy for Hindus facing persecution worldwide.
She even had a Hindu wedding ceremony in India.
Additionally, she has been vocal against the persecution of Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Notably, she was the first Hindu member of the US Congress.
It is well known that the US director of national intelligence has a "soft corner" for persecuted Hindus globally, and India is keen to leverage this connection.
Gabbard’s agenda in Delhi
On the first day of her visit, Gabbard is participating in a high-profile security conference, chaired by Ajit Doval.
This conference includes intelligence chiefs from the four QUAD nations (Australia, India, the US, and Japan), as well as representatives from the G7 countries.
Attendees included Daniel Rogers, Canada’s intelligence chief; Richard Moore, head of the British intelligence agency MI6; and New Zealand’s national security adviser, among others.
The discussions at the conference are being kept highly confidential.
However, it is understood that the primary focus will be on improving intelligence-sharing mechanisms among these countries.
From Monday to Wednesday, the strategic dialogue platform "Raisina Dialogue" will be held, co-organized by Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the Ministry of External Affairs.
Gabbard will participate in the dialogue and deliver a speech on a public stage.
Alongside these events, she will hold a private meeting with Doval.
Discussion on Bangladesh?
Since August 5, discussions at the highest levels between India and the US—whether via phone calls or face-to-face meetings—have inevitably included the topic of Bangladesh.
Previously, when Narendra Modi spoke with then-US president Joe Biden over the phone, India raised concerns over an alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
The topic was also discussed when Modi met President Trump at the White House last month.
Additionally, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has repeatedly brought up Bangladesh in his meetings with top US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
The issue of alleged Hindu persecution has become an uncomfortable subject between the current governments of Dhaka and Delhi.
Bangladesh’s interim government argues that the Indian government and media are exaggerating this issue through continuous "propaganda," which does not align with reality.
They have also pointed out that most of the reported incidents are political in nature rather than religious.
