Heat on Pakistan as Modi, Trump pledge to fight terror
PM IN AMERICA US President says India now has a true friend in White House
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump pushed Pakistan to ensure its territory was not used for attacks against other countries, a blunt indictment of Islamabad that signalled a new determination in the two leaders to fight terrorism.
In another important nod to India’s concerns over China’s One Belt One Road project, Washington agreed that any infrastructure for regional connectivity must ensure “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
While there were no announcements of major deals, a joint statement confirmed the sale of naval drones to India that Washington has never sold to a non-NATO country, and which New Delhi can use to watch over China’s maritime moves.
In a first meeting that was closely watched for their personal chemistry, the two leaders appeared keen to show they got along, with Modi reaching out to hug Trump three times in the White House Rose Garden before cameras.
Trump was also warm but his comments on trade betrayed some areas of chill. Under pressure to expand US exports and create more jobs at home, he called for a trading relationship with India that was “fair and reciprocal”. Last year the U.S. trade deficit with India was close to $31 billion.
But mutual areas of divergence – from H1B visa for Indian technology workers and US worries over Indian patent laws to America’s role in climate change – were largely left to officials to thrash out behind closed doors.
In the evening, Modi became the first foreign leader to enjoy a White House dinner since Trump came to power, although the US President has held more highprofile meetings and dinging with China and Japan’s leaders at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
“During my campaign, I pledged that if elected, India would have a true friend in the White House. And that is now exactly what you have — a true friend,” Trump said with a beaming Modi by his side.
The Indian prime minister too was effusive in hailing the ties with Washington.
“My visit and our talks today will mark a very important page in the history of the collaboration and cooperation between our two nations,” he said.
“I am sure that the convergence between my vision for a “new India and President Trump’s vision for “making America great again” will add new dimensions to our coopera
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