After Obama Visit

After Obama Visit

From the developments unfolding now gradually, it is becoming clearer that visit of US Prez Obama had much more to it than what was seen and shown during his stay here around Republic Day. 

First, it was a bit shocking to see our own PM Modi calling Prez Obama by his first name over and over again. In diplomatic world, this is seen as an insult. Heads of States are not addressed this way.

Then Prez Obama surprised everyone with his sermon advising India & Indians to invest in religious harmony for better future. Many saw it as a taunt since he went on to say how our own Bapu Gandhi would have felt after seeing the religious acrimony ingulfing our society today. 

Some commentators saw in it a polite but forceful reminder that USA still remains a super power, and is still capable of influencing and even guiding the destiny of the entire globe. To me, it was, perhaps, a response to the unwise name calling by our PM Modi.

Now yet another impact of the visit is unfolding with resumption of talks with Pakistan. As usual, our sly neighbour has succeeded again in persuading USA to coerce India to resume the stalled talks. 

An inference may be drawn from the change of Foreign Secretary that seeds of this development were shown during visit of Obama. Being unable to fend off the pressure for resumption of talks, perhaps, our PM wanted to at least have a competent official, as per his assessment, to lead the talks.

Now let us wait to see what they are going to talk about and what are we going to gain by talking.