Desi Talk

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 8 US˨INDIA June 6, 2025 Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri Holds High-Level Discussions With Trump Administration Officials I ndia’s Foreign Secretary VikramMisri visitedWash- ington, D.C. fromMay 27–29, 2025, for a series of high-level engagements with senior officials of the U.S. Administration. The visit was a follow-up to the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States on February 13, 2025, a press release from the Indian Embassy said. During Modi’s visit, both sides launched the India-U.S. COMPACT (Ca- talysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accel- erated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century. Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor was also part of the Indian delegation with Secretary Misri. Foreign Secretary Misri held meetings with coun- terparts in the State Department, the National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce. At a luncheon meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda, and underscored the priority of Technology, Trade, and Talent as key pillars shaping the India-U.S. partnership in the 21st century. In meetings with Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, “both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a robust and forward-looking defense partnership,” the press release said. Discussions focused on co-production and co-development initiatives, sustained joint military ex- ercises, logistics and information-sharing frameworks, and enhancing interoperability between the armed forces. With Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulk- ender, the Foreign Secretary discussed ways to deepen economic and financial ties, including collaboration in international financial institutions and coordination in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes. In his meeting with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, both sides reviewed progress on the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement, cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and the need to streamline ITAR and export control regulations. They agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue at the earliest opportunity. In line with the US-India COMPACT, detailed inter- agency discussions were held on a range of strategic areas including defence cooperation, energy security, TRUST initiative, counter-terrorism, the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and collaboration through platforms such as the Quad, I2U2, and IMEEC, the press release said. Foreign Secretary Misri along with DNSA Kapoor jointly chaired a roundtable with industry representa- tives, focusing on deepening bilateral collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. Additionally, met with members of the think tank community where they discussed a range of subjects covering the India-U.S. strategic partnership. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:DoD photo byKashif Basharat Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge A. Colby greets Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 29, 2025. Two Men, One Of Indian Origin, Sentenced In Human Smuggling Case In Which Indian Family Died T wo men were sentenced May 28, 2025, in the District of Minnesota after being convicted at a jury trial for their roles in an inter- national human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of four Indian nationals, including a three-year-old and 11-year-old child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick, May 28. The victims were Jagdish and Vaishaliben Patel, and their children, 11-year-old Vihangi and three-year-old Dharmik, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for his role in a human smuggling scheme. The Court did not impose a term of supervised release on defendant Patel, citing the likelihood that Patel will be deported following his prison sentence. Patel’s co-conspirator, Steve Anthony Shand, 50, received a sentence of 78 months followed by 2 years of supervised release. Trial evidence showed that Patel and Shand were involved in a major human smuggling operation that brought Indian nationals into Canada using fake student visas then illegally moved them across the U.S.-Canada border. Patel handled the coordination of smuggling individuals fromManitoba into the United States, while Shand picked them up after they crossed into the U.S. and transported them to Chicago. Both men were paid for their participation and ignored the life-threatening risks posed by the frigid conditions at the northern border. Testimony revealed that the going rate to be smuggled from India to U.S. from Canada was around $100,000. During a blizzard in January 2022, Shand and Patel, working with other co-conspirators, attempted to smuggle 11 aliens into the Unites States from Canada. Due to the storm conditions that night, Shand’s van got stuck in the snow. That turn of events forced the aliens to travel on foot for approximately seven hours in minus-36-degree wind chill and severe winter weather conditions while they searched for Shand’s vehicle. Two migrants found Shand while his van was stuck; the rest did not. A passerby pulled Shand’s van from the ditch. Soon thereafter, a U.S. Cus- toms and Border Patrol agent arrived and suspected alien smuggling. Eventually, five additional aliens were located, one of whom was suffering from hypothermia so severe she had to be airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul. Meanwhile, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police located the bodies of a family of four, two adults and two young children, who had separated from the larger group during the night. The family died of hypothermia. The father was found still holding his infant child wrapped in a blanket. None of the 11 migrants was dressed appropriately for the severe, cold weather conditions. In November 2024, a federal jury found both defendants guilty of multiple charges, including conspiracy to bring aliens to the Unites States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeop- ardy, conspiracy to transport aliens within the Unites States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, attempted transportation of aliens for commercial advantage or private finan- cial gain, and aiding and abetting the attempted transportation of aliens. “Every time I think about this case I think about this family—including two beautiful little children—who the defen- dants left to freeze to death in a blizzard,” Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick, is quoted saying in the press release, calling the crime “unspeakable”. In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge John R. Tunheim explained that “Border smuggling is a very serious problem,” one that “exploits victims.” He noted that the night this family died was one “one of the coldest nights of the win- ter” and that these were “very dangerous conditions.” Judge Tunheim said that the defendants “could have done something” and it “might have made a difference”— but they did nothing. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:Facebook.com @Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba posted Jan.19,2023 Indian family of four who died on the US-Canadian border in 2022. Jagdish Kumar Patel, Vaishaliben Patel, and their two children, Vihangi, 11, and Dharmik, 3.