Obama finds New Delhi a ‘trustworthy partner’ in Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: India and the US on Sunday announced the much-anticipated breakthrough agreement on the commercial implementation of their landmark civil nuclear deal, six years after it was signed, and also entered a new strategic phase of co-production of some defence projects, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting US President Barack Obama held talks marked by much warmth and camaraderie.

“We are committed to moving towards full implementation,” Obama told a joint news conference with Modi in the Indian capital. “This is an important step that shows how we can work together to elevate our relationship.

“Relations between countriesdepend less on full stops and commas and more on the relationships between leaders... the chemistry between them,” Modi told a joint press conference.

“Barack and I have struck up a strong friendship... this chemistry has not just brought me and Barack closer but also brought Washington and Delhi — and the people of our countries — closer together.”

Opening his remarks with a few Hindi words, Obama said: “My namaskar to all, full of love.” Obama also said he would like to wear Kurta.He also hailed the “personal friendship” with his counterpart, saying the closeness reflected a shared commitment to values such as democracy and entrepreneurship.

“In addition to a personal friendship, we are also reflecting the warmth and affection between the Indian people and American people,” said Obama. “It’s not surprising that we have a friendship because hopefully we are reflecting the values of our peoples.”

The two men spoke for more than three hours, capping a remarkable turnaround in relations between the two countries after a diplomatic row in late 2013 that saw the Stars and Stripes torched on the streets of Delhi.

President Obama assured India of the US support for a seat on the UN Security Council. He urged Modi to cooperate for regional stability by launching a peaceful era of ties with Pakistan, diplomats revealed on Sunday.

“Besides the bilateral issues, Pak-India ties and launching talks were the phrase repeated in the meeting in New Delhi held after Obama arrived in India,” the diplomatic sources privy to the informal talks between the two leaders communicated to Online from New Delhi.

They said Obama asked the Indian prime minister that regional stability was vital and Pakistan had a key role in this connection. The two leaders also discussed India’s ties and cooperation with the war-torn country Afghanistan, according to the sources.

Obama said the US saw New Delhi as a trustworthy partner in Afghanistan. “We should also cooperate with each other in a way that no country’s concerns could arise,” the sources asserted while quoting Obama as saying.

Obama placed a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial ahead of the talks with Modi and later attended a dinner.On Monday, in addition to attending India’s Republic Day celebration, the US president will speak at a CEO forum bringing together American and Indian business leaders.

They two leaders talked like old schoolmates. The ‘chai pe charcha’ moment drew smiles when it was referred to at the joint presser, and Obama thanked the prime minister.

Modi also said the two sides had decided to set up a hotline between the two leaders. To a question on their body language, he referred to the US president with the first name, saying, “Barack” and I have been maintaining contact over phone, and also chat.”

He said the personal equation between two leaders goes a long way towards bringing the two nations and their people together.Answering a question from a reporter, Modi said: “Barack and I talk to each other whenever we want to.”

When asked what came under discussion, he said: “Let some things remain a secret which came under discussion between us.”The agreement resolved differences over the liability of suppliers to India in the event of a nuclear accident and US demands on tracking the whereabouts of material supplied to the country, US ambassador to India Richard Verma told reporters.

Signaling his determination to take ties to a higher level, Modi broke with protocol to meet and bear-hug Obama as he landed in New Delhi earlier in the day. It was a remarkable spectacle given that, just a year ago, Modi was persona non grata in Washington and denied a visa to the United States.

After a working lunch that included kebabs made with lotus stem, figs and spices, the two leaders got down to talks to finalise agreements on climate change, renewable energy, taxation and defence cooperation. But Modi cautioned that work was still needed to create solid partnership between the world’s two largest democracies.

Earlier, the two leaders walked and talked together in an elegant garden and sat outside over tea. Modi, who sold tea on a railway platform as a child, poured a cup for Obama.Armed police and soldiers lined the roads of New Delhi, where Obama was met with a guard of honour and a 21-gun salute in a formal ceremony at the presidential palace. Briefly, a stray dog ran around the forecourt of the palace in an otherwise highly choreographed event.

Up to 40,000 security personnel have been deployed for the visit and 15,000 new closed-circuit surveillance cameras have been installed in the capital, according to media reports.Obama will depart slightly early from India to travel to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah, instead of a planned visit to the Taj Mahal.