Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home on late Friday night after a five-nation tour whose highlight was his meeting with US President Barack Obama and address to the US Congress in Washington. During his six-day tour, Modi visited Afghanistan, Qatar, Switzerland and Mexico as well with an aim to bolster ties.
Afghanistan
In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s second visit to Afghanistan and the inauguration of the Salma dam in Herat there, the assessment in South Block is that India has succeeded in getting the Afghan Government out of the Pakistani orbit of influence, forging what is seen as an emerging Indo-Afghan-Iranian axis and is all set to further strengthen its already-close ties with the United States.
Qatar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani on Sunday witnessed the signing of agreements in Doha, as the delegation-level talks concluded. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the energy-rich Qatar since Manmohan Singh in 2008.
Switzerland
In a major boost to its diplomatic push for NSG membership, India on Monday managed to win crucial support of Switzerland ahead of a key meeting of the 48-nation bloc even as the two countries agreed to step up cooperation in unearthing blackmoney stashed by Indians in Swiss banks.
United States
With Pakistan obviously in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said terrorism is being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and pressed for action without making any distinction against groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and ISIS who share the “same philosophy of hate, murder and killings”.
Mexico
“Mexico supports India’s efforts to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group,” President Enrique Pena Nieto announced in a boost for Modi’s diplomatic push to end India’s isolation over its nuclear arms programme. India is also poised to join the Missile Technology Control Regime.
DC Take
Prime minister Narendra Modi’s foreign trips have been an issue of severe criticism back home, especially by the Opposition. But the trips have generated a lot of positive vibes for India. The perception of policy paralysis set in during the rule of Congress-led government is on its way out. And if Modi manages to secure NSG membership, it will be a big achievement.
