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| Modi and Obama rewrite new chapter in Indo-US ties | | | Not with standing the fact that Barack Obama,may find his hands tied for pushing through various vital decisions because of the Republicans having secured majority in both the Houses,the US President has displayed his will for promoting cordial ties between Washington and New Delhi. Obama gave expression to his desire to take India by the side of US during his visit to India which commenced on Sunday when he received a warm welcome from the top Indian leaders.Signalling his determination to take relations with the United States to a higher level, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke with protocol to meet and bear-hug U.S. President Barack Obama as he landed in New Delhi on Sunday.
Obama's visit is a fresh bid to make India an enduring strategic partner and will nurture his friendship with a Prime Minister who a year ago was persona non grata in Washington.Even before the first official meeting between the two leaders, reports indicated that negotiators had struck a deal on civilian nuclear trade.The two sides are said to have ironed out differences on the liability of suppliers in the event of an nuclear accident and on tracking of material supplied.Agreement on nuclear deal,defence cooperation and liberal US financial aid for increasing the level of trade transactions are some of the significant achievements made during bilateral talks.
The Narendra Modi-led government is all set to go where the previous UPA government had feared to tread. India and the US may soon agree on allowing their warships and aircraft to access each other's bases, refuel and, in case of emergency, operate side by side.For this, India has to sign what the US calls "Foundational Documents" or agreements required by its law for the transfer of sophisticated military technology and weapons to a country. The government of India is no longer shy of exploring the pacts that the previous Congress-led government, especially then Defence Minister AK Antony, had refused to even consider, saying India's sovereignty would be compromised.
In a sign of change under the new government, these agreements were at the core of negotiations between India and the US for renewing a 10-year Defence Framework pact.
The discussions ended on Wednesday, setting the stage for announcements to be made during President Barack Obama's visit..Make no mistake though. Obama's visit to India is a significant moment in Indo-US relations and one that is being watched keenly in many capitals across the world. It is as a US official put it, "A transitional moment in our relations, if not transformational." There is little doubt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pulled off what Lalit Mansingh, a former Indian ambassador to the US, describes as "a diplomatic coup" by getting Obama for the parade.
By accepting the invitation, Obama is setting two new records. He would be the first US President to visit India twice when in office and also the first to be the chief guest at a Republic Day parade since its inception 65 years ago.
But more than the records, what Obama's visit does represent is a dramatic turnaround in relations between the two countries that had drifted and lost the way in recent years.
Yes,during the late 70's the Indo-US relations had suffered a freeze forcing New Delhi to bank on the erstwhile Soviet Union for supply of weapons and other military hardware.It was Moscow that backed India during any international political row.Even on the Kashmir issue the erstwhile Soviet Union sided with India.
And it was the result of Soviet intervention that India and Pakistan signed the Tashkent Agreement in 1965 soon after the war. However, right from US Presidents, John.F.Kennedy to ,Bill Clinton Washington started softening its stance towards India.And the Congress led UPA Government too has been instrumental in promoting cordial ties with Washington. In fact former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has contributed greatly to ironing out differences and mistrust between New Delhi and Washington. India needs to promote cordial ties with USA to counter Islamabad-Beijing nexus and it is hoped that Obama and Modi will carry forward the mission of building durable relations between the two sides. |
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