Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to accept the US President Barack Obama’s invitation for bilateral talks during the United Nations’ General Assembly is an opportunity to reset the Indo-US relations.
Modi’s move shows he is willing to let bygones be bygones and will not let the decade-long visa ban come in the way of India’s foreign relations. It also shows that both countries can now focus on trade and bilateral ties, moving on from the bitterness generated due to the Devyani Khobragade episode.
In spite of the nuclear deal and the talk of ‘strategic partnership’ during the rule of the former UPA government, Indo-US ties have failed to live up to the high expectations. However, Modi’s business-friendly image and his agenda of economic reforms may go a long way in boosting trade and investment. India’s economic revival needs big-ticket US investment.
The US, too, needs to take India on board for its South Asia policy. The withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan will create a security vacuum that would be of great concern to India. Therefore, both countries need to put their heads together to formulate a comprehensive security strategy for the region.