India and the USA will discuss the fast deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic during the two-day visit of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken beginning Tuesday, July 27. During his talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, terrorism emanating from Pakistan funding of terror groups will also figure. Blinken will meet National Security Advisor(NSA)Ajit Doval and call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi too.
Given the growing strategic and defence ties over the past few years, the two sides are also likely to explore ways to further strengthen relations including exercises and transfer of technology. The two delegations will also do the groundwork for the ourth 2+2 dialogue of defence and foreign ministers to be held in the US later this year.
Highlighting some of the key features of Blinken’s visit, the first ever to India after assuming new charge, sources said here on Sunday Jaishankar is in regular touch with him for the past few months through telephone conversations. The two leaders met when Jaishankar visited US in May and later on the sidelines of the G-7 and G-20 summits in UK and Italy respectively.
Indicating US President Joe Biden’s keenness to have strong relations with India, the US Secretary of State is the third senior member of the Biden administration to
visit India after defense secretary Lloyd Austin in March and special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry in April.
While the two sides are likely hold intensive review of the situation in Afghanistan and the Taliban controlling major part of the country, India will also convey its concern about the instability in Afghanistan spilling over into the Indian subcontinent. Moreover, Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM)terrorists now currently fighting alongside the Taliban may also target Kashmir, sources said.
They said the implications of the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, and the need for sustained pressure on Pakistan over terror financing and terror havens will be part of the agenda for talks between India and US.
As regards the ongoing campaign against the corona pandemic, they said the two leaders will focus on supply of vaccine raw materials, and economic recovery efforts.
India will continue to push for ensuring open and consistent supply chains for materials and items needed for vaccine production, as the country ramps up production for both domestic vaccination and global supplies thereafter, sources said.
Also, the need for resilient supply chains for critical medicines and healthcare equipment will figure in the talks. India may also stress the need for gradual resumption of international travel while maintaining health protocols, especially easing the mobility of students, professionals and business travellers, and allowing travel for family reunions and humanitarian issues.
Having forged an alliance as part of the Quad, the two ministers will discuss ways to enhance engagement like the possibility of a meeting of foreign ministers of India, Australia, Japan and the US later this year.
The two sides will also take forward the Quad vaccine partnership, which was launched at the first virtual summit of the group in March, to enable the supply of made-in-India Covid-19 vaccines to countries in the Indo-Pacific from early 2022.
Jaishankar and Blinken are also likely to lay the groundwork for the Quad summit and bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Joseph Biden due to be held in Washington later this year, sources said.