Indian Foreign Secretary On Mission To Open Communication Channels With Trump Team

Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is on an undeclared mission to open up communication channels with the Donald Trump transition team in the US.

“I can confirm that Foreign Secretary is in US for routine visit,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup told the media.

The Foreign Secretary will try to fix an early meeting with the President-elect Trump.

South Block is somewhat convinced about Trump’s leaning towards India and wants to cash in on that predilection. In fact, India is also hopeful of having good relations with Trump’s team as Indian American Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, may take up an important post in the Trump Administration.

But India also has apprehensions about Trump’s tough talk on tighter visa and immigration rules as also on outsourcing. This is the reason India is trying to build relationship with the incoming US administration.

Senior Indian ministers have spoken of a dossier to convince Trump that Indian outsourcing is actually beneficial to the US company. This may be presented to the Trump team at the earliest opportunity.

“India and the US have a strategic partnership and bilateral have blossomed after the civil nuclear agreement. The strategic partnership acquired additional dimensions during the Barack Obama Presidency. But Trump’s perception on visa and immigration and trade could impact India IT and business houses. His views on terrorism and his proximity to Indian-Americans will definitely going to benefit India. So I think it is wise decision by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to try to establish early links with key persons on the Trump team,” Washington-based chairman of the United States India Political Action Committee, Sanjay Puri said.

The article first appeared on Sputnik International.