India to push for 'sustained pressure' on Pak during US Secy of State's Delhi sojourn

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Nirendra Dev

New Delhi: Secretary Blinken’s visit reciprocates External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's visit to the US in May 2021.

India is giving considerable importance to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's two-day visit beginning July 27 and will push for sustained pressure on Pakistan on terror financing and discuss "implications of withdrawal" of US forces from Afghanistan.

"On the regional security situation, implications of withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, and the need for sustained pressure on Pakistan on terror financing and terror havens, will be part of the agenda," a source said.

In the defence domain, both sides are expected to explore ways and means to deepen their collaboration.

"This will cover policy exchanges, exercises, and defence transfers and technologies. These will be would be covered in greater detail during the fourth 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue due in the US later this year," the source said.

Discussions that will seek to deepen 'Quad engagement' will be a key focus area of talks, possibly a Foreign Ministerial Quad meeting later this year.

New Delhi will also take forward the Quad vaccine initiative to enable the supply of vaccines produced in India from early 2022 to countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Two sides will also exchange assessments about the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on Covid assistance, economic slowdown and security scenario.

The latest developments in West Asia and Central Asia are also likely to be covered, the source said.

Of course, among other issues, Climate Change remains an important area of conversation, particularly the potential for green collaborations and climate finance and transfer of clean technologies to developing countries.

“The sources further said India would also engage with the US on other global issues. Political and cultural rebalancing are important trends. India supports a truly multi-polar, democratic and diverse world order and expects international conversations to reflect this evolution."

India believes in equity and fairness, whether in development, climate change or global decision-making, the source maintained alluding to UN reforms.

Indian government attaches "considerable importance" to the visit of Secretary Blinken and "looks forward to taking forward the conversation with the US on numerous issues and also addressing Covid or global developments."

Secretary Blinken’s visit reciprocates External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's visit to the US in May 2021.

The two leaders had detailed conversations this year in the UK (at the G7 meeting) and Italy (at the G20 meeting).

In March this year, Secretary of Defence, Lloyd J Austin, was the first top US executive under new President Joe Biden to visit India.

The Secretary of State Blinken's visit will be an opportunity to consolidate bilateral cooperation across a vast agenda.

Issues like augmenting trade and investment, and tapping opportunities in healthcare, education, digital domain, innovation and security, will be important elements of the conversation, the source said.

Discussions will cover the containment of Covid-19 and Covid-19 recovery efforts.

During the talks, India will also press for gradual resumption of international travel while maintaining health protocols, especially easing the mobility of students, professionals, business travellers, family reunions, humanitarian cases etc., the source added.