Manmohan Singh makes news in US and Russia

Posted on December 10, 2009
Filed Under Blogging, General, India | Leave a Comment

I have been gripped by anorexia. May be due to the high fever last few days. However, I am making sure I dont stop working, I can turn lazy, really!

So what is currently on rife in media? Ask me and I would say it is our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is making news. He is a very busy man these days. Before he visited Russia last week, he was invited to US for Obama’s first state dinner. It was a great privilege. Singh confessed it was a gala dinner event with all political and business big shots part of it. Both the leaders agreed to improve the Indo-US ties for peace and stability in the 21 century.

US never had to depend on India, but times are changing and situations like Afghanistan are informing President Obama on India’s friendship. US have always been very neutral in its relations with South Asian and South East Asian countries. Tomorrow Obama might go to China and say, you are to lead this region, he might then go to Japan and kowtow before the empower on another ulterior motive, and after all still he will make sure he keeps India happy. Obama in his sugarcoated words apparently hailed India as “indispensable” to global security and prosperity when he met Singh. He called India as US’ best ally.

Clap, clap, decent or indecent, Obama plays good politics. After all, it is leaders of two world’s largest democracies meeting. India having embraced democracy and growing to be a more stable government is important for Obama especially in his Afghan predicament. India and US both need each other to tackle extremists in that country.

Meanwhile, even as US is flushing out the Taliban and other threatening forces, India is busy helping the Afghans by rebuilding air links, power plants and investing in health and education sectors as well as helping to train Afghan civil servants, diplomats and police.

India sincerely wants to see Afghanistan developed, especially making sure it does not turn a safe haven for terrorists including those in Pakistan. An agreement providing $50 million to promote bilateral businesses between India and Afghanistan was signed in 2006. During the same year, India raised its aid package to Afghanistan by $150 million, to $750 million. India also supported Afghanistan’s bid to become a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). India is not to leave that country. Just like how it got Bangladesh liberated, it is helping Afghanistan be a free and developing country.

By the way, US was not Singh’s last stop. He even went to Russia last week. I always enjoy reading reports on Indo-Russia ties. From decades Russia is one of two countries (the other is Israel) that has been unswervingly supporting India in all fronts. This feeling of friendship has helped India tackle many of its problems ranging from terrorism to border issues. Russia even considers India a deserving and strong candidate for a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council. The same was mentioned in the joint declaration between both the leaders. India and Russia on Monday signed a $100 million credit line agreement and set a target of $20 billion by 2015 to strengthen bilateral trade.
Is there something more in addition to what I mentioned? I cant remember more, all I can now remember is – time to wrap up my day. So wishing you a good night, Adios ~ SAM

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