Apt time for FS to build relationship with Trump admin: Nisha Biswal

Former U.S. assistant secretary of state, Nisha Biswal, said Saturday here that it is a good time for relationship building between the Indian and the American Administration.

Commenting on Indian Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar's visit to the Washington Biswal said, "With respect to the visit of Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, I think it's actually a good time for him to come and do some relationship building with the new team. My understanding is that the foreign secretary has had a fairly robust schedule of meetings."

She further added that she believes the Foreign Secretary would also have raised the issue of security of the Indian diaspora in the U.S. following the killing of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla, who was shot dead in Kansas in an alleged hate attack.

"Because of the tragic and terrible attack on the Indians in Kansas. I believe will also have been something that the Foreign Secretary would have raised privately with the administration," she said.

She added that it is in best interest for both countries to grow their cooperation as both the United States and India have a convergence of aims and objectives both on the economic side and the security side.

"Right now we are in a period where the Trump administration is still forming its staffing postures as well as its policy postures. We are still waiting for greater clarity but I do expect that as the administration gets its feet under it the US-India relationship will be one that gains priority," she added.

Jaishankar's four-day visit to the U.S. was aimed at sensitising the Trump administration about India's concerns over the security of Indian nationals in the U.S. following a possible cut in H1B and L1 visas.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary held meetings with a number of senior U.S. administration officials including Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Homeland Security John F. Kelly, National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, House speaker Paul Ryan along with meetings with senior member of the Congress.