Tillerson for alternative to China’s One Belt, One Road initiative

In this context, Tillerson pushed for road connectivity in Bangladesh and Afghanistan so that even Pakistan is inclined to participate in the move, a person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified.

One Belt, One Road is a Chinese initiative to build a “Silk Road” of ports, railways and roads linking Asia, Africa and Europe. India’s primary opposition to OBOR is that one of its key legs runs through the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

According to an Indian diplomat who asked not to be identified, Tillerson also pitched for increased cooperation between the two countries in the Indo-pacific region so as to uphold rulebased rights of navigation and overflight in the area.

The US secretary of state and PM Modi agreed to speed up the decision-making process and scope of the bilateral relationship, the diplomat added, with the former offering help to enhance India’s military capabilities and capacities. He repeated the offer of F-18 and F-16 fighters, one C-17 heavy lift transport aircraft and Guardian drones to Swaraj.

“Secretary Tillerson said that there are some good ideas and proposals on the bilateral table and it should not be a case of lost opportunities,” the diplomat added.

With NSA Doval, Tillerson shared details of the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and the future steps for political stability of the region and the need to militarily defang the Taliban before onset of any political negotiations with the Ashraf Ghani regime in Afghanistan.