For many in south block Hillary Clinton is a known entity and Donald Trump so far has been a maverick someone who can sound highly impractical at times.
India has had a long association with Hillary Clinton both as First Lady and later as secretary of state. In Indian diplomatic circles she is seen as someone who is very sympathetic and understanding of India’s concerns.
A senior diplomat says her pro-India stand can be best explained by her terse message to Pakistan in 2011 – “If you raise snakes in your backyard then don’t think they will only bite your neighbours”.
India would definitely want the next US President to take a harder line against Pakistan on state sponsored terror.
Despite international pressure and the SAARC boycott post the Uri attack Pakistan continues to provoke India.
There has been very little progress on 26/11 and none whatsoever on the Pathankot attack investigations. Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal feels that compared to Hillary, Donald Trump has been more vocal on fighting terror.
He says, “Hillary Clinton will continue following an ambivalent policy on Pakistan based terror. To date US warnings have not translated into action and don’t expect US to impose sanctions under the Clinton administration”.
It is almost certain that India will raise the issue of high H1B visa fees for Indian nationals working in the US.
Under new regulations Indian companies operating in US have to pay an additional 4000 dollars for H1B visas.
The move has been called discriminatory. In August this year, during the Indo-US Strategic dialogue, US Trade Secretary Penny Pritzker had promised to look into Indian concerns.
She had said, “It is not true that Indian workers are being directed. Visa change was not directed towards Indian’s”.
Immigration and saving American jobs has been a strong theme in this election. While Donald Trump has taken a tough anti-immigrant stand at times, former diplomats don’t expect any change if Hillary is elected either as she is expected to continue policies of her democrat predecessor.
US Secretary of State John Kerry during his visit to IIT Delhi earlier this year had said the US will talk to china about India’s non proliferation credentials and they hope to get India into the NSG by the end of the year but, as of today there is no change in China’s position.
Just last week the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying had said, “We will seek a solution that applies to all Non-NPT Countries and then we will discuss the specific application of the relevant non NPT country (India)”. Therefore, India will be hoping that the next President would help take up India’s case with the Chinese President or at least help India in creating a situation where China is isolated in the 48 member NSG grouping.
India continues to be on US Trade Representatives Priority Watch List or the Special 301 report on countries with serious intellectual property rights deficiencies. US have used this as a pressure point against India despite protests from the Indian side. India’s diplomats and top officials from the commerce ministry will try their best to engage with the next US administration on the matter.
India knows where to start from if Hillary becomes President but if Trump wins we will have to follow a wait and watch approach, said a foreign ministry source. One thing is for certain. Whether it is a Trump Presidency or a Hillary Presidency the Indian government is sure of continuity in Indo-US relations. Sources also say PM Modi will invite the next president to visit India soon and the visit could take place within a year of the new president taking over.
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