Afghan scenario to spice up Modi-Biden meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to embark on his maiden visit to the United States since the Biden administration came to power later this month and hold talks on bilateral ties, the security situation in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the Indo-Pacific region with the President on September 23.It will be followed by the first physical Quad summit on September 24 in Washington DC. Modi will address the UN General Assembly on September 25, ET has learnt. The PM’s UNGA address will coincide with India’s membership of the UN Security Council as non-permanent member. The Quad summit is expected to take forward outcomes of the virtual meeting in March and focus on measures for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla had visited New York and Washington DC last week to prepare for this big visit. Afghanistan dominated the agenda in New York and DC. Issues concerning Indo-Pacific region was also on the table. India and the United States are closely watching Pakistan’s actions in Afghanistan, he told journalists on Friday. “Obviously, like us, they're also watching carefully, and we have to watch Pakistan’s actions with a fine-tooth comb,” he said at the end of his three-day official visit.

from Economic Times https://ift.tt/3tkB5KG