Barack Obama’s Visit: India Is Not Exactly Excited

As the American mid-term elections begin today with a rather bleak prediction about Barack Obama’s future, the President of the USA and his team must have begun their preparations for their three-day visit to India that begins Saturday (November 6).

Although India will roll out the customary red carpet, and there would be visible cordiality and warmth extended to Obama that the diplomatic niceties demand, both India and Pakistan are perplexed at the recent signals being sent by the US administration.

“The Obama administration is lining up at least $ 2 billion in fresh, new military aid to Pakistan even as it is lobbying for billions of dollars in defense sales to India ahead of the US President’s visit to the region early November,” reports the Times of India.

“It also comes amid stunning disclosures pointing to direct ISI (and therefore the Pakistani state’s) involvement in the 26/11 terrorist attacks on Mumbai, which sites President Obama is expected to visit on November 6. Six Americans were among 172 people killed in the carnage.

“On top of this, a top NATO official said this week that Osama bin Laden was living in ‘relative comfort’ in Pakistan, protected by locals and some members of the country’s intelligence agencies, following up similar charges earlier by secretary of state Hillary Clinton.” More here…

On the other hand, Pakistan is apprehensive about the visit of US President Barack Obama to India, “especially over the symbolism hidden in the decision to pick Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Hotel for starting the trip” as it was the focal point of terrorist strikes on the city, a media report here said today. More here…

(US President Barack Obama will deliver a speech against terrorism at Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, one of the targets of 26/11 attack. Obama will stay at the iconic hotel during his stay in Mumbai and pay respects to the people who lost their lives in the attack besides signing the guest book there, sources said.)

(Barack Obama’s India trip itinerary here…)

In the present day world the official visits are generally in the nature of promoting their own business interests while maintaining a status quo as far as sensitive strategic policies/moves are concerned. “It’s going to be business from touchdown. U.S. President Barack Obama who is to visit India later this week, would aim at boosting defense ties between Washington and New Delhi.

“Intense lobbying for contracts worth billions of dollars to replace the Russian-supplied military hardware is expected during the visit. India is offering an approximately $30 billion defense procurement plan. U.S.’ Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp. are likely to benefit from the $11 billion deal for 126 fighter jets. However, Obama’s lobby team will have to compete with Russia’s MiG-35, France’s Dassault, Sweden’s Saab and the Eurofighter Typhoon.

“Obama will embark on a 10-day trip to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan during which he would take part in the G20 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Council summits. India, which was recently termed as a ‘great and emerging global power’ by the Obama administration, would be his first stop.” More here…

The US President Barack Obama’s visit to India, starting from Mumbai, fits into the American National Export Initiative (NEI) which seeks to double American exports in the next five years and creating millions of jobs, officials said. More here…

“Barack Obama’s trip to India next month will be the biggest by any US President – with a staggering 40 aircraft and six armoured cars. The president himself will be ferried around in a black Cadillac – dubbed ‘Barack Mobile’ – which has its own built in communications centre – to enable Obama to be in touch with the White House, US vice president and the US strategic command. The car also has the US nuke launch codes and the nuclear switch for the president. It can also withstand a chemical or germ warfare or even a bomb attack.” More here…

‘Beast’ to give Obama a safe ride in India… See here…

Obama to have his fill of Gandhi and townhall meetings during India visit…See here…

Obama, who will stay at New Delhi’s luxury hotel ITC Maurya from Nov 7-9, and will eat Indian style at its flagship eatery Bukhara – with his fingers! One of the USPs of the restaurant is its custom of urging guests to use their hands, instead of forks and knives, to eat the food. More here…

Finally, United States President Barack Obama’s visit to India is just a few weeks away but New Delhi and Washington DC are caught up in an ugly sparring over the US government’s withholding of information about David Coleman Headley, an American intelligence operative, who played a key role in the run-up to the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008 (better known as India’s 26/11). More here…