Rex Tillerson to stress on India's role in Afghanistan plan
, ET Bureau|
Updated: Oct 23, 2017, 01.44 AM IST
NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s three-day (October 24-26) visit to New Delhi will underline the Trump administration’s strategy to make India the centrepiece of Washington’s South Asia policy, with an eye on stabilising Afghanistan and establishing a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific to counterbalance an expansionist China.
While Tillerson will visit Islamabad ahead of New Delhi during his five-nation trip, the US Secretary of State is expected to deliver a blunt message to his Pakistani hosts about cracking down on safe heavens of terror — a point highlighted by him during his recent remarks on the Indo-US partnership.
It is no coincidence that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will visit India on October 24 on the very day Tillerson lands in India. The Trump regime has put India as the key player in its Afghan strategy — a point that was also underlined by US Defence Secretary James Mattis during his visit last month, according to officials.
While Tillerson will visit Islamabad ahead of New Delhi during his five-nation trip, the US Secretary of State is expected to deliver a blunt message to his Pakistani hosts about cracking down on safe heavens of terror — a point highlighted by him during his recent remarks on the Indo-US partnership.
It is no coincidence that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will visit India on October 24 on the very day Tillerson lands in India. The Trump regime has put India as the key player in its Afghan strategy — a point that was also underlined by US Defence Secretary James Mattis during his visit last month, according to officials.
