A hotline between Barack Obama and Modi! Imagine the issues that can be discussed, unhindered

India has become the fourth country - after Russia, Britain and China - with which the US has a hotline. The hotlines or secure lines of communication between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama and their national security advisers have recently become operational.

This is the first hotline for India at the level of head of state, though it has not been put to use during its short lifespan so far.

"It (hotline has) just recently been established," said Peter R Lavoy, special assistant to US President and senior director for South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council of the White House.

When asked if the two leaders have used this latest tool of secure communication, Lavoy said: "It (hotline) has not been used so far."

"This is a secure line between two very very close partners so that they can exchange views at the heads of state level...exchange views and co-ordinate approaches to solving real problems," said the top White House official.

In 2004, India and Pakistan agreed to establish hotlines at the level of foreign secretaries, and in 2010 New Delhi and Beijing announced to establish a hotline at the foreign minister level.

It has been reportedly said that the hotline between India and Pakistan was established with the help of US military.

India-China hotline is yet to become operational.

The establishment of hotline between leaders of the two largest democracies of the world is part of efforts of Obama and Modi to increase the frequency of level of communication and frequent discussion between them on key bilateral, regional and global issues.

At a joint press meet with Obama in New Delhi on January 25, after their meeting, Modi said the two leaders have decided to give this critical partnership its due trust and sustained attention.

(Image: Indiatimes)