On an official visit, the Minister is taking on the US media and the administration alike

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on 11-day US visit and his visit is turning out to be an exercise in plain speaking. The foreign minister arrived in the US on Sunday to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He took on the US media as well as the US administration for their anti-India stand. Right from the day, he arrived in the US Jaishnkar has been meeting Indian Americans, and US press and met his US counterpart Antony Blinken. The reason for his visit officially is to 'enable a high-level review of the multifaceted bilateral agenda and strengthen cooperation on regional and global issues to further consolidate the India-US strategic partnership.' However, it is turning out to be a significant official visit that can redefine the US-India relations.To put things in perspective the Joe Biden administration has not been supportive of the Modi government's policies and practices. In fact, to make things worse the US press has been rather critical of Prime Minister Modi for his right-wing stance and rising hate crimes in the country. But then it is not about the Indian government but the country they are being critical of. Whatever happens in India must be resolved back home and in this regard, S Jaishankar's visit can be seen as critical.

The External Affairs Minister took on the US media in a hilarious way saying that they would report only the negatives and shun the good part. He also retorted to the US media's concerns about the situation in Kashmir. Ahead of a meeting with his US counterpart Antony Blinken, foreign minister S Jaishankar made no bones about India's concerns over the $450 million sustainment package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet. Saying Washington was 'not fooling anybody' by claiming the fighter jets were meant for counter-terrorism purposes in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Jaishankar also said that the US-Pakistan relationship did not serve the interests of either country. In the present geopolitics, the US and India are natural allies as China's expansion is a big cause of concern for India and cannot be contained without the US on its side. The US also needs India to counter Putin's threats and use India as a mediator if need be, given India's proximity to Russia. But at the same time, India must assert its positions and make clear its national interests which Jaishankar is doing right now.