There was nothing spectacular in the Narendra Modi-Donald Trump meet; the handshakes and bear hugs don’t mean much. Whether branding Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin — who is now a spent force — as a “global terrorist” would have any bearing on terror emanating from Pakistan soil is anybody’s guess. On China, the aversion by both leaders to antagonising Beijing was obvious by the way in which there was an indirect commitment to “maritime cooperation”.
It is very unlikely that a country such as China would be rattled by a routine meeting between the two global leaders. That Mr. Modi shied away from raising issues such as the contentious H-1B visa was disappointing. One is also in the dark about the possibility of the two leaders having discussed India’s bid for a permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. It is quite obvious that Mr. Modi’s visit was aimed at fostering goodwill with Mr. Trump. Unlike Barack Obama, a spontaneous charmer, our leader may need more one-on-one deliberations with Mr. Trump to carry forward what was achieved in the maiden meeting (Editorial – “Warm in Washington”, June 28).
Ganapathi Bhat,
Akola, Maharashtra
The U.S. has reasons to be happy as it has managed to sell drones and other defence equipment and is very open that this would mean more jobs for the Americans. The joint statement, with a focus on fighting terror, has no meaning unless the West, led by the U.S., stops the supply of arms and ammunition to nations such as Pakistan. Will it be possible for the economies of these countries to survive without involving the manufacture and the supply of arms and ammunition? I doubt it (“Indo-U.S. statement focusses on fight against terrorism”, June 28).
N. Nagarajan,
Secunderabad
