Ahmedabad: US President Donald Trump showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his grand Ahmedabad reception, Namaste Trump, Monday but also sought to suggest that New Delhi should promote peace in South Asia through dialogue with all its neighbours, including Pakistan.
Trump praised Pakistan’s role in “cracking down” on terrorists and said he was hopeful of reduced tensions in South Asia.
However, the better part of Trump’s speech was focused on exalting the relationship between India and the US despite continued tensions that are stalling a trade agreement between the two democracies.
Talks for a limited trade deal between the US and India fell apart just ahead of Trump’s trip, with the two sides failing to arrive at a consensus on certain issues like greater market access and American exports of agriculture and dairy products.
Addressing a crowd of thousands at the stadium, Trump said he sought to expand economic ties between both the countries with “the biggest trade deal ever made”.
“We are in early stages of discussion for an incredible trade agreement to reduce barriers of investment between the US and India,” he added. “And I am optimistic that working together, the PM and I can reach a fantastic deal that’s good and even great for both of our countries,” Trump said even as he described Modi as a “tough negotiator”.
Trump claimed that, since he was sworn in as President in January 2017, bilateral commerce had increased by more than 40 per cent. India, he added, was now a major market for American exports and the US is India’s largest export market.
“In America, we have proven that the best way to attract jobs and opportunity is to reduce burdens on business, knock down barriers to new investments and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy, red-tape, regulation and taxes,” he said.
Trump added that the world was looking forward to an even more “improved business climate in India under Modi”.
He hinted that the US was ready to offer a range of arms to India, from aeroplanes to UAVs and missile systems. He weighed in on the countries’ growing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and said the US and India can work together to ensure the region is free and open.
The US President is in India for a two-day trip that concludes Tuesday evening after a meeting between the two leaders at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
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‘A good relationship with Pakistan’
Days after Pakistan was told off by the Financial Action Task Force, the international terror funding watchdog, for failing to meet its obligations on curbing terrorism, Trump was all praise for Islamabad’s role in this regard.
“Our relationship with Pakistan is a good one… We are beginning to see signs of big progress with Pakistan and we are hopeful of reduced tensions, greater stability and future of harmony for all nations in South Asia,” Trump said.
“India has an important leadership role to play in shaping a better future as you take on the responsibility of solving problems and promoting peace throughout this region.”
Trump said the US was happy to see the progress Pakistan was making to “crack down on the terrorist organisations and militants that operate on the Pakistani border”.
New Delhi, under Prime Minister Modi, remains firm that it will not go into a dialogue with Islamabad unless it puts an end to cross-border terrorism.
Trump’s appeal for peace in South Asia comes two days before the first anniversary of the IAF’s Balakot airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Pakistan on 26 February 2019.
The Balakot airstrikes were India’s retaliation against the 14 February 2019 Pulwama attack, which was carried out by the JeM and killed 40 CRPF personnel.
This is not the first time Trump has sought to reduce tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US last September, Trump had offered to mediate between the two on the Kashmir issue — an offer India immediately rejected in line with its historical stance.
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Another way of saying “Genuflect before Pakistan”.
This is the advice any statesman who wishes India well would tender.