The United States, India and the world want stability in Pakistan, says U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on May 17 amid the ongoing turmoil in the neighbouring country.
Emphasising the importance of stability, he highlighted engagement while respecting the Pakistanis’ autonomy in determining their future. “We hope that there will not be unrest in Pakistan and we stay engaged with Pakistan because of that. I think that serves both India and the United States and the world. And we hope and pray that the rule of law and peace will prevail over the border. But, that’s up to the Pakistani people to decide,” he said.
Mr. Garcetti who is on his maiden official visit to Maharashtra said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the U.S. this June to meet with President Joe Biden and he is ‘thrilled’ about it.
“This will be India’s first official state visit to the United States in 14 years and just the third official state visit hosted by the Biden Administration. It’s only the third time in 75 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited. Today, we stand at an important moment in history. This year holds great promises for India and US in terms of what the two nations can do,” he said.
Mr. Garcetti said that before coming to India, he spoke to President Biden about his vision for the U.S.-India partnership, and the President stressed just how pivotal the current moment is.
“It’s pivotal for the whole planet, of course, but especially for our two countries, who have never worked closely together as we do today,” he said.
The U.S. is now India’s biggest trading partner, with $191 billion in bilateral trade last year and India now sends the most students of any country to the United States, he said and added the militaries of the two countries train together.
“But when I think about when I first came here, it was so different. Our relationship was a one-way flow. Our defence trade was zero. And we hardly had any international economic ties together. Today, things are so different. We are now the largest trading partner of India in the United States,” Mr. Garcetti said.
He said that both nations are now protecting an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient. “And our leading companies collaborate to solve global challenges in inclusive development and renewable energy. We are jointly addressing global health and development challenges, confronting climate change, and delivering next-generation critical and emerging technologies. We are showing the world how the United States and India or better together,” the U.S. Ambassador said.
Mr. Garcetti recalled his first visit to India and Mumbai as a teenager where he learned so much. “I learned how deeply we are connected to people everywhere on this planet - no matter where we live, what language we speak, how much money we have, or who we worship. I learned the importance of building a world where every person has an opportunity to belong. As I return to India now, that early understanding has never been clearer. In some ways, it feels like I never left,” he said.
“Of course, in other ways, the differences are mind-blowing. As a teenager, I never could have imagined the growth and progress that India has achieved in the past three decades. India is emerging as a leading power in the world,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Garcetti met Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani. “Great meeting with Mukesh Ambani to learn about Reliance’s innovations in the renewable energy sector, and exploring avenues for more #USIndiaTogether economic cooperation,” U.S. Envoy said in a tweet.
On May 16, he met Shah Rukh Khan at the actor’s residence ‘Mannat’ and discussed Bollywood and its ‘huge cultural impact’ across the globe.
Mr. Garcetti took to Twitter to share about his visit to Khan’s mansion. “Is it time for my Bollywood debut? Had a wonderful chat with superstar @iamsrk at his residence Mannat, learning more about the film industry in Mumbai and discussing the huge cultural impact of Hollywood and Bollywood across the globe,” he said in a tweet.
