DEALING WITH BUSINESSMAN TRUMP

This refers to the editorial, Modi’s US visit (HT, June 28)’. A red carpet welcome, hugs and a White House dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with a harsh reprimand of Pakistan over terrorism and the US decision to designate Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin a global terrorist, are all music to our ears. We secured the US nod on our demand of predator Guardian drones. What we must not ignore is that President Donald Trump, besides being unpredictable, is a businessman and a believer in good economics. He walked out of the Paris climate deal and demanded NATO members to dish out more for what he saw their financial burden on the US. He minced no words in showing his dissatisfaction over Indian barriers for US exports and Indian IPR laws, but did not discuss India’s pressing concerns over H1B visas. Our approach has to be cautious with no compromise over our interests while dealing with such a tough customer. HL Sharma, Amritsar