Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s non-stop flight to the US flew over the Pakistan’s airspace to avoid crossing Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Modi’s talks with Biden is likely to focus on crisis in Afghanistan and China’s situation.
Nagpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Washington today for a three-day official visit in which he will participate in the Quad summit with the US, Australia and Japan. This will also be Modi’s first bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.
Modi is all set to address the UN General Assembly. He was welcomed by a crowd of Indian Americans chanting his name and waving the tricolor. Despite light rain early in the morning, a significant number of Indian Americans had gathered there to welcome the Indian prime minister. However, the PM was seen meeting the Indian-Americans without his mask.
Soon after meeting the Indian diaspora, Modi tweeted “Grateful to the Indian community in Washington DC for the warm welcome. Our diaspora is our strength. It is commendable how the Indian diaspora has distinguished itself across the world.”
Modi said his meeting with US President Joe Biden, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison and Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga would provide an opportunity to “identify priorities for future engagements based on our shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region.”
Modi and Biden’s bilateral talks on September 24 would likely focus on th4e growing crisis in Afghanistan and China’s growing assertiveness. Further expansion of India-US global partnership is expected to be the main focus of the meeting.
The last time PM Modi visited was in September during Donald Trump’s term and just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit India.
