While protocol dictated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump should seem to foster Indo-US relations, the body language of the two leaders representing two largest democracies at their first meeting since Trump took office indicated that the bonhomie seen between them was not just for the cameras.
Surely, there was an air of genuineness about it which put into the shade some earlier points of disagreement. Evidently, Modi succeeded in establishing a cordial relationship with Trump. On his part he was focused on establishing a preliminary rapport rather than raking up unpalatable issues which could sour the pitch with a man who is known to speak his mind if he dislikes something.
There was speculation on whether Modi would give a hug to Trump to signal closeness considering that Trump is known to abhor any open show of warmth. That Modi carried it off was evidently a good sign. As expected, this was a Modi visit that was not high on tangible gains to either side. But that it set the tone for a sustained relationship that would not derail the process of friendliness that was established during Barack Obama's time was a big plus.
To India's relish, Trump took on the issue of terrorism head-on in the joint statement issued by the two leaders at the end of the visit. His stress that the US and India would “destroy radical Islamic terrorism” (though he did not mention Pakistan by name) was significant indeed. The joint statement devoted considerable attention to the issue of terrorism, with the notable new announcement of “a new consultation mechanism on domestic and international terrorist designations listing proposals.”
The language on Pakistan's culpability for the use of its territory by militant groups and terrorists was sharp. The joint statement said that the leaders called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory was not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries.
They further called on Pakistan to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai, Pathankot, and other cross-border terrorist attacks perpetrated by Pakistan-based groups. The joint statement named Pakistan based terror groups – Hizbul-Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, D-Company, ‘and their affiliates' – a ‘global scourge'.
By naming Syed Salahuddin as a global terrorist the US met a major expectation of India. Salahuddin has been a constant threat to India since early 1990s first as a commander in Hizbul Mujahideen, then as its commander in chief, and now as the chief of United Jehad Council, an umbrella body of anti-India terror organisations.
From the perspective of what was left out, Modi's talks with Trump cannot be deemed to have been a glorious success. The whole emphasis was to find common ground and to move on in a positive vein.
