Face to face, United States President Obama seems even more unflappable, cerebral and dispassionate than he appears on the television. Ironically, we can say the same about Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It is no surprise then that the two got along famously. India need not fear a drift in the US-India partnership in Obama’s watch, say analysts weighing on the visit.
The four-day visit ran its course with no uncomfortable moments despite the fact that US and India failed to tie up a pact designed to ensure that New Delhi will not reprocess American-sold nuclear fuel into weapons- grade material. Both sides remained optimistic that it would get done. Obama unequivocally committed his administration to the full implementation of the nuclear deal, describing it an opportunity to “increase American exports and create jobs.”
Earlier this year, Indians were taken aback by references in General Stanley McChrystal’s report describing India’s role in Afghanistan as provocative toward Pakistan. By dint of history, the US and India find themselves supporting mutual goals in Afghanistan, including the development of a democratic government that will nix the Taliban from regaining power. India brimmed with pleasure that US “appreciated” India’s role in Afghanistan and “agreed to enhance their respective efforts”.
The Obama-Manmohan joint statement also echoes the Indian charge about Pakistani doublespeak on terrorism. It keeps the pressure on Islamabad to eliminate terrorist safe heavens. Analysts weighed in on the joint statement to pronounce Manmohan’s visit a “creditable success”. Obama also made amends to the glaring omission of India in his Asia-Pacific speech delivered at Tokyo en route to China by saying India today is a rising global power. The visit was useful as Manmohan Singh also used his alone time with the US president to raise India’s concerns about Chinese border incursions. Although Washington is following a Sino-centric Asia policy, the US is unlikely to stand idle if Beijing were to further inflame border tensions.