Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepting the invitation of President Barack Obama to visit Washington in September has attracted attention not only because it will be the first visit of the new Indian PM to America, but also because of Mr Modi’s history with the US, which had revoked his visa on account of the perceived part played by the Gujarat government headed by him in the pogrom of 2002.
The latter aspect is now inconsequential as President Obama’s invitation is to the Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy, not to an individual. America’s record suggests that it is prone to sup even with military usurpers if it serves its national interest, as was evident in our own neighbourhood when Washington switched gears to deal with Pakistan’s General Pervez Musharraf, whom it had sharply criticised for overthrowing PM Nawaz Sharif.
So, there are no surprises in the US leader inviting India’s PM. In fact, the US would have noted it is late on the ball, for the Scandinavians, the British, the Japanese and the Chinese have preceded it in wooing Mr Modi on account of his strong business-friendly reputation.
It is, therefore, likely, that the trade, business and investment aspect of the India-US bilateral agenda will be loaded in any conversation between Mr Modi and Mr Obama. But there can be little doubt that the two leaders will have opportunity to survey the entire gamut of bilateral relations, as well as important regional issues, not to say key strategic questions.
The list includes civil nuclear cooperation, defence ties, Indian concerns on the trade front such as issue of certain categories of visas and business outsourcing by US firms, Pakistan and terrorism, India’s positive role in Afghanistan as the US disengages from that country, besides India’s interest in the Asia-Pacific theatre.
The Indian leader needs to be clear in his mind that the sag in bilateral relations with the US seen in the past year and a half is not due only to constraints witnessed on the Indian side in the latter part of Dr Manmohan Singh’s second term as PM, but also on account of Mr Obama’s own domestic difficulties and his focus on withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan, his new engagement with Iran, and distractions caused by Syria and Ukraine. Therefore, both sides must now bend their energies to revitalise ties. The question of mea culpa on the Indian side does not arise.
The engagement with the US is important in its own right but Washington would no doubt note that the new government in New Delhi is simultaneously pushing to impart dynamism to relations with South Asian neighbours, Brics, and China and Japan, with good responses.
