New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the first individual summit of the four leaders of the Quadrilateral Framework (Quad) in the Indo-Pacific in Washington on Friday (September 24).
US President Joe Biden had called a virtual quad summit with PM Modi and his Australian and Japanese counterparts, Scott Morrison and Yoshihide Suga, in March and is keen to have a physical meeting at the earliest. This will be PM Modi’s first personal meeting with US President Joe Biden.
covid 19, climate crisis, afghanistan, cyber security on quad agenda
“The Quad leaders are focused on deepening our ties and advancing practical cooperation on areas such as combating COVID-19, addressing the climate crisis, partnering on emerging technologies and cyberspace, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. Will focus.” The White House said.
Before leaving for the US visit, PM Modi had said that the summit would take stock of the outcome of the virtual summit of the Quad leaders in March and identify priorities for future engagements based on their shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region. provides opportunity.
“My visit to the United States will be an opportunity to strengthen the comprehensive global strategic partnership with the United States, strengthen ties with our strategic partners Japan and Australia, and advance our cooperation on important global issues,” he said. departure statement.
The Afghan crisis and its implications, China’s growing assertiveness, ways to curb radicalization and cross-border terrorism, and the further expansion of the India-US global partnership, are expected to be the central focus of the first personal meeting between Modi and Biden. Washington September 24.
At a media briefing on the Prime Minister’s visit to the US, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said developments in Afghanistan will be discussed extensively in the bilateral talks between Modi and Biden and the Indian side will convey that Washington needs to focus. needed in that country.
The Quad summit is expected to showcase all four countries as part of a strong alliance of “democratic politics, market economy and pluralistic societies”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar referred to the grouping in a recent speech.
Taliban on terrorism agenda bilateral talks with american president
According to a person familiar with the Indian official’s agenda, during the bilateral meeting, PM Modi is expected to take up with Biden the way forward with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The person was not authorized to comment publicly, as quoted by PTI.
Modi is expected to object to the Taliban’s attempt to seek UN recognition. According to a PTI report, Taliban factions have also raised concerns to the Modi government about the influence of Pakistan’s intelligence service in dividing government offices in Kabul.
When the Taliban first controlled Afghanistan, the group supported militants in Kashmir, a long-disputed region that has been at the center of wars and skirmishes between India and Pakistan.
The Haqqani network was behind two suicide bombings at the Embassy of India in 2008 and 2009. Members of the network, which the US has designated a terrorist organization, have been given top positions in the Taliban government.
PM Modi meets US VP Kamala Harris
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described India and the US as “natural partners” as he held his first personal meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, during which he decided to further strengthen the India-US strategic partnership and discuss global issues. Common interests including threats to democracy, Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific.
“India and the US are natural partners. We have common values, common geopolitical interests,” Modi said in a joint media appearance with Harris on Thursday. .
Describing India and America as the largest and oldest democracies, Modi said that both the countries share values and their coordination and cooperation is also gradually increasing.
After concluding his program in Washington, Modi will travel to New York on the evening of 24 September and address the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly the next day.
(with PTI inputs)
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