India's international ambition larger than Pak issue: Alyssa Ayres

As the nation is gearing up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Alyssa Ayres, former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia has spoken to Republic TV on Thursday about what she expects from the address. Ayres, who is now senior fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations has said that PM Modi will issue a tough statement against terrorism and climate change. Speaking about India's focus, Ayres has added that India's international ambitions are larger than the issue of Pakistan. She has said that she also expects the PM to speak about Kashmir issue.

Speaking to Republic TV, Ayres said: "We are gonna expect that the Prime Minister will speak to some extent the challenge of terrorism that India consistently raises on the world stage. We are likely to hear the PM talk about climate change given the importance that India has placed on being part of the solution to the global climate change challenge. I think we can also expect the PM talk about some of India's other ambitions, some of the maritime concerns, some concerns on issues like space. Space has been an important issue for India certainly in the past couple of decades."

"I hope that the Prime Minister's address will cover a range of issues that are important to India globally. And not simply the Kashmir issue that will undoubtedly come up. Any Indian leader will feel obligated to give a reply given the importance Pakistan has given to it. But I do think India's international ambitions are much larger than the very tough issue of Pakistan," she added.

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Here's what she said:

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Prime Minister meets US President

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had bilateral talks on September 24, the MEA informed that India and the US will be optimistic about trade deal. US President Donald Trump said his country will soon have a trade deal with India. "I think very soon. We are doing very well. (US Trade Representative) Robert Lighthizer who is right here negotiating with India... I think, very soon we will have a trade deal," Trump told reporters when asked if there is any trade deal is expected between India and the US. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar in a press brief after the meet said that the focus of discussion was on the 'impact of terrorism' and the origin of terror. 

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PM Modi in the US

Prime Minister Modi is on a six-day US visit. He attended the mega Howdy Modi event on the first day and addressed 50,000 Indian Americans at the NRG Stadium in Houston. US President Donald Trump also made his appearance at the event. The very next day, on September 23, the Prime Minister addressed the UN Climate Summit at the UN headquarters in New York. On September 24, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Gandhi Solar park and spoke at a special program to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary. He also met US president for bilateral talks. He addressed the GBF on Wednesday and is scheduled to speak at the UNGA on September 27. 

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