Modi in love

The bear hug US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared aptly summarised the current relationship between the two countries. It was interesting to see Modi fawn all over Obama, speaking of their personal bond and chemistry and describing the way they talk so easily on the phone. The man who was barred from travelling to the US for his role in the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat is now on the receiving end of a civilian nuclear deal from that same country. The sharing of nuclear technology and materials had been the one irritant in the otherwise close relationship between the two countries and now that seems to have worked itself out, with all the concessions having come from the US. The two sticking points preventing a deal had been the liability of nuclear suppliers in the event of an accident and the American insistence on being able to track the whereabouts of material supplied to India. On both demands the US is said to have given in, handing India a major coup. It speaks to the burgeoning alliance between the two countries that the US would agree to this despite India’s refusal to sign international nuclear treaties. And we can be sure that Pakistan will not be given a similar deal anytime soon because of a suspicion of Pakistani intentions and overblown worries that our nuclear technology will fall into the hands of militants.
Along with the nuclear breakthrough, India will also be the beneficiary of economic and defence deals as well as signing an agreement on climate change. Modi had already broken with protocol by personally meeting Obama on the tarmac, an honour no other visiting dignitary has been given. And Obama’s presence at India’s Republic Day parade will also be historic as this is the first time a US head of state will be present at the occasion, which has traditionally been used to demonstrate India’s military might. Modi has received more than enough in return for these unprecedented shows of friendship. The US is obviously hoping to build India up as a counterweight to China in the region and for greater Indian support for US foreign policy initiatives. All of this spells bad news for Pakistan, which Modi is determined to demonise every step of the way. Obama’s wish that bilateral trade between the two countries grows from $100 billion a year to $500 billion will bind the fortunes of the two countries. We should now expect even less US ‘support’ for our stance on Kashmir and more lectures about doing more to rein in militant groups.