The Howdy Modi event has been one of the most talked events of late. With opinion sharply divided on the Kashmir Saga as well as how Modi is perceived, this event has captured to attention of all. The synergistic effect of “the leaders of the world’s two largest democracies” sharing a stage turned the diaspora rally in Houston, Texas, into a potent political spectacle. Beamed to a billion homes worldwide, ‘Howdy, Modi’ has put Indo-US relations in the global spotlight, to the mutual advantage of both countries. While the main reason for the visit was a mini trade deal, Modi and Trump have both used their effusive rhetoric to throw veiled jibes at Pakistan and its export on terror.
President Donald Trump’s emphasis on a “strong security partnership” and mutual commitment to fight “radical Islamic terror” and safeguard respective borders will have been intently watched and minutely analysed in Beijing and Islamabad. Washington has taken a tough stance on China, while India has successfully resisted Pakistan’s attempts to internationalize Kashmir. Modi took the opportunity to mention how a state which had itself utilized martial law to control a region which has been demanding freedom and has constantly exported terror and was currently rather unstable , had tried to question India’s action on Kashmir. Without naming Pakistan, modi reasserted that India would need more than just empty promises to trust Pakistan and in the meanwhile would do everything to defend its borders.
