India-US partnership will shape the 21st century: US State Secretary

New Delhi – US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that India and the US would take joint actions, which would shape the 21st century. That is why strengthening the partnership with India is a top priority in US foreign policy. During his two-day visit to India, Secretary of State, Blinken held bilateral talks with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar. US Secretary of State Blinken underlined the importance of US relations with India while addressing a press conference after the discussion.

The US Secretary of State met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. But the most critical issue was a meeting between Secretary of State, Blinken and representatives of the Dalai Lama, Buddhist religious and Tibetan leader. The media is claiming that the US Secretary of State has delivered an appropriate ‘Message’ to China by meeting the representatives of the Dalai Lama. At the same time, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that co-operation between the great democracies of India and the United States was of paramount importance and expressed concern over the possible threats to democracy in the present times.

Although not directly mentioned, the US Secretary of State hinted at the threat posed to the democracies around the world from countries with communist dictatorships, such as China. China has reacted to that. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has criticized that no one country can have a patent for democracy. Lijian supported the Chinese single-party communist regime, claiming that it was more important for the system to be pro-people than believing that a particular system is the best. Due to this reaction from China, the importance given to democracy by India and the United States seems to have stung China.

‘One of the most important bilateral relationships globally is between democratic India and the United States. Both are the world’s leading democracies, and diversity is part of both countries’ national strength. Saying that US President Joe Biden hopes that relations between the two countries will strengthen, Secretary of State presented his country’s stand at a joint news conference. Secretary of State Blinken made a suggestive demand ‘At the same time, the government that comes to power in Afghanistan must fully represent the Afghan people. This requires a peace process in Afghanistan. The peace process should be Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled.’ India had expressed its expectations in the same words, from time to time. Indian argument is that a rogue country like Pakistan should not be allowed to exert influence in Afghanistan. The US Secretary of State seems to have slapped Pakistan with the demand in the same language.

Afghanistan should be independent, sovereign, democratic and stable, and that is what the world expects. However, Afghan independence and sovereignty will not remain intact unless protected from tainted intentions, said Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar. With this, the Indian Foreign Minister seems to have slammed Pakistan. Meanwhile, It seems that India’s foreign ministers have imposed a toll on Pakistan. Meanwhile, the partnership between India and the United States is crucial for the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region; Blinken said that the partnership between India and the United States is vital for the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region.