India, Oct. 23 -- US President Donald Trump extended Diwali greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a phone call, praising the Indian leader and expressing continued optimism about the US-India relationship. The conversation came amid heightened diplomatic friction between the two countries over trade tariffs and India's energy ties with Russia.

In a post on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi confirmed the conversation, thanking Trump for his warm wishes. "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," he said.

The phone call came just days after Trump publicly claimed that Modi had assured him India would stop buyi...