According to U.S. diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, cooperation between India and the United States is essential to managing China's influence and potential dominance in Asia.
The United States sees India as a crucial strategic ally in the Asia-Pacific region. The relationship between the U.S. and India is strong, with the U.S. President maintaining a positive rapport with Prime Minister Modi.
India has expressed concerns to the U.S. regarding the necessity of protecting Afghanistan's political and constitutional structure in any agreement with the Taliban. India is also considering starting a discussion with China on the Afghanistan situation, which it views as stemming from the U.S. administration's hasty withdrawal attempts. India has emphasized to the U.S. its position as the only country with substantial economic assets on the ground in Afghanistan.
India will soon engage in discussions with Beijing regarding the evolving situation in Afghanistan. Since the Modi-Xi summit in Wuhan in 2018, India and China have explored opportunities for collaboration in Afghanistan but have not yet discussed recent developments.
Trade talks between India and the U.S. are reportedly in their final phase, with efforts to finalize a trade pact by July 9. Disagreements over import duties for auto components and steel have created obstacles in the trade discussions between India and the U.S.
