US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo plans to use Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election campaign slogan — “Modi hai to mumkin hai” — to explore new frontiers of bilateral relations during his upcoming India visit during which he expects discussions on a host of issues, including trade. In a speech roughly etching the contours of his planned June 24 visit, Pompeo confirmed the US approval and offer of sale of high-tech defence equipment to India such as armed drones, Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) and Patriot-3. “As Prime Minister Modi said in his latest campaign – he said, ‘Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai’, ‘Modi makes it possible’. But India and the US have had differences, particularly on trade, and for a long time. “I do hope, and remain open – and we remain open to dialogue, and hope that our friends in India will drop their trade barriers,” Pompeo said.

Source: Hindustan Times June 14, 2019 00:11 UTC