On the occasion of the visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to the United States, the US side facilitated the return of 297 antiquities that had been stolen or trafficked from India. These will shortly be repatriated to India.

The US has handed over to India 297 antiquities, which were smuggled out of the country, during the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an official statement said Sunday. Official sources said illicit trafficking of cultural property is a longstanding issue that has affected many cultures and countries throughout history,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed deep appreciation for US President Joe Biden for ensuring the return of 297 invaluable antiquities to India. Prime Minister Modi is in the US for a three-day visit to “further strengthen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.