Pakistan, Nov. 5 -- The White House on Tuesday confirmed that US President Donald Trump maintains regular communication with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with trade discussions between both sides continuing at a serious pace.

"The president and his trade team continue to be in very serious discussions with India," White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "I know the president has great respect for Prime Minister Modi, and they speak pretty frequently," she added.

Trump, speaking earlier in South Korea, said he hoped to reach a trade deal with India, signaling a thaw in relations that had recently reached a low point after Washington doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50 percent in response to India's purchases ...