By Shivam Patel NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian and U.S. diplomats are trying to arrange a February meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, two Indian sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

Jaishankar said that the two countries would like to deepen ties in defence, security, technology and more domains and are competing on how to take it forward.

India’s government is prepared to work with Donald Trump’s administration to identify and take back all its citizens residing illegally in the US, an early signal from New Delhi that it’s willing to comply with the incoming American president and avoid a trade war.

India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is keen to enhance trade relations with the US and make it easier for its citizens to get skilled worker visas, two topics that will be on the agenda if the leaders meet,

External affairs minister S Jaishankar attended the Trump inauguration ceremony as special envoy of Prime Minister Modi.

India is also playing ball because it wants to hold on to the legal channels for immigration that Indians now enjoy. With a new sheriff in town — and a possible trade war looming — India on Tuesday declared it will help President Trump identify its citizens residing illegally in the United States and then take them back.

India plans to repatriate 18,000 citizens living illegally in the US to align with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.