India-US Trade Deal Nears Finish Line, Marco Rubio Says Only Few Issues Remain

India and the United States are moving closer to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicating that only a handful of outstanding issues remain before the deal can be concluded. Speaking during his second official visit to India, Rubio expressed optimism that both countries could soon announce progress on the proposed agreement.

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On camera, Tiger Shroff shooting suspects seen rushing to catch train in Surat before arrest in Kota The three suspects were nabbed on Monday from Rajasthan’s Kota from where they were planning to flee to Nepal via Delhi. Updated on: Oct 19, 2026, 21:00:07 IST By Shashank Rao | Edited by Sana Fazili Prefer HTPrefer HT Prefer HT on Google Share Fresh details have emerged in the shooting case involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, with CCTV footage from Surat railway station helping police track down the three alleged assailants, who were arrested in Rajasthan’s Kota on Monday. Two of the three assailants seen rushing to catch the train at Surat station. (Sourced video) Two of the three assailants seen rushing to catch the train at Surat station. (Sourced video) Shroff escaped unhurt after three motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at him in Mumbai on Sunday evening as he was leaving a club in his car after playing football. The suspects subsequently travelled by road from Mumbai to Surat, where they boarded the Pune-Jaipur Express (train 12939). They were arrested in Kota on Monday morning while allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal via Delhi. Also read: Shooters planned to kill Tiger Shroff in Mumbai, motive unclear, say police According to railway officials, a team of RPF and GRP was formed based on inputs received from the police. “The surveillance footage was checked at various stations after which they were tracked from Surat railway station. The team of rail police along with local police apprehended them at Kota the next day, at around 10.15 am,” said a Western Railway official. Fresh clip shows men rushing to catch train Deep Dive How did police track the suspects after the Tiger Shroff shooting? Where were the suspects arrested, and which train were they on? Where were the Tiger Shroff shooting suspects allegedly planning to flee? Powered By FAQ Ask HT The CCTV footages from various spots of Surat railway station show the trio rushing their way to catch the train. Two of the three men are dressed in white shirts, while the third one is seen wearing a blue T-shirt, carrying a bag. They can be seen walking hurriedly outside the station. On the platform, the trio is seen rushing past the crowd to catch the train – two running ahead and the third one closely following behind. The CCTV footages became a crucial piece of evidence for the cops who were trying to nab the assailants in the high-profile case. How investigators tracked the assailants The three suspects were detained from the general coach of the Pune-Jaipur Express when the train arrived at Kota railway station. According to the RPF, Kota division received information from the Mumbai Police crime branch about the suspects travelling on the train in connection with the firing incident in Juhu. “The joint team checked the train upon its arrival and detained the three men before they could proceed further. Preliminary information indicated that the suspects had travelled by road from Mumbai to Surat before boarding the train,” said the railway official. Who are the assailants? The suspects have been identified as Rehan alias Sukka (18), a resident of Sonipat in Haryana; Ritwik Kurmi alias Roshan Fighter (22), reportedly from Bihar and currently residing in Andheri West and a juvenile whose identity has been withheld in accordance with legal requirements. However, the police later said that none of the three assailants is a minor. The third one was identified as Phool Singh, aged 18 years. One of the accused is said to be a driver working for app based aggregator Rapido. A spokesperson for the company said in a statement: “We are deeply concerned by the incident involving Mr. Tiger Shroff and his team, and we are relieved that he is safe. We wish him a swift recovery. We are aware of media reports mentioning an individual registered as a captain on the Rapido platform. He has not been active as a captain on our platform since 14th October. As is common in India’s larger gig economy, individuals may be registered with several platforms at the same time. On the day of the incident, the individual had used Rapido’s services as a customer”. The statement further read, “We are in constant touch with the authorities and are supporting them in their investigation. We responded promptly and have shared all the information requested from us. Rapido has zero tolerance for violence or criminal activity, and we will continue to extend our full cooperation.” The suspects are being investigated for their alleged involvement in the firing incident, and their culpability will be established through the ongoing probe.

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“We’re very, very close. I would say we’re about as close as you can be without having executed the agreement. I think there’s a small number of items left to wrap up, so I think that will happen shortly,” Rubio said.

Although Rubio clarified that the US State Department does not directly negotiate trade agreements, he said the department remains closely involved in developments surrounding the discussions. His remarks signal continued engagement between New Delhi and Washington as both sides work towards resolving the remaining differences.

Rubio also expressed hope that the two countries would soon have positive news to share, suggesting that negotiations could be approaching a decisive stage.

“So, we’re very optimistic that we will have something in place here very soon,” he said.

However, Rubio did not specify which issues remain unresolved, nor did he provide a precise timeline for signing or formally announcing the agreement. The final outcome will depend on whether the two governments can settle the outstanding points and agree on the terms.

India-US Trade Talks Amid Tariff Tensions

The latest developments come against the backdrop of trade tensions between the two countries, particularly over India’s purchases of Russian oil. Washington had previously criticised New Delhi’s continued energy trade with Moscow, with US President Donald Trump’s administration linking India’s Russian oil imports to its decision to impose steep tariffs on Indian goods.

The United States had imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports last year, according to the report. Those duties were subsequently reduced to 18% as trade negotiations between the two countries progressed.

The tariff issue has remained an important part of the broader economic relationship, with both governments seeking to advance trade ties while navigating disagreements over market access, energy purchases and economic policy.

A final agreement could provide greater clarity for businesses operating across both markets and help establish a more predictable framework for bilateral trade. However, the precise economic benefits and commitments under the proposed deal will depend on its final terms.

Washington’s Changing Approach to Russian Energy

Rubio’s comments also come days after Washington waived certain sanctions on Russia as the restrictions were due to take effect. The report also cited Trump’s announcement of a diesel arrangement with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at cushioning the impact of rising fuel prices in the United States.

These developments represent a shift from the administration’s earlier hard-line approach towards Russian energy imports and countries purchasing Russian oil.

For India, which has faced US criticism over its energy trade with Moscow, Washington’s evolving position is significant in the context of bilateral negotiations. Nevertheless, the reported easing of some sanctions does not automatically mean that all US restrictions on Russian energy or related trade have been lifted.

The latest remarks from Rubio offer an encouraging signal for India-US economic engagement, but a formal announcement will be necessary to establish whether the two sides have resolved their remaining differences.

With only a limited number of issues reportedly left to settle, attention is now focused on the next steps in negotiations and whether New Delhi and Washington can translate their stated optimism into a concluded trade agreement.

For now, Rubio’s assessment that the countries are “very, very close” places the proposed deal at a potentially crucial stage, even as questions remain about its final provisions, implementation and timing.