India prepares for Obama's visit

New Delhi: The visit of a US President always gets the government on its toes and with just two weeks left before president Obama touches down in India, one would expect the pomp and show to start by now. But where's the buzz in the corridors of power?

Comparing it to George Bush's visit four years ago seems like Obama isn't getting quite the same attention as Bush did then.

This could be partly because Obama doesn't have a Nuclear Deal up his sleeve and partly because there have been a series of minor conflicts between the US and India in the run up to the visit.
 
Though, Bush may have been controversial in his own country, he managed to deliver the nuclear deal. Whereas, not much is in the offing during Obama's visit.

So what can be expected?

Well, the one announcement India is hoping for is the lifting of export restrictions on hi-tech equipment.

The US officials have hinted this may happen allowing the sale of sensitive technology to India that was denied after the Pokhran test. Delhi has lobbied for months to have this policy changed.

Delhi also hopes for a strong sign that the US will support it for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, though many wonder whether Obama will go beyond his stated position.

But, expectations apart, ahead of Obama's visit the India-US relationship has been plagued by a series of irritants. From his strong anti outsourcing stand, to America's continued objections to the Nuclear Liability Law, the hike in visa fees and David Headley. Critics believe that these issues have the capability to sever ties.

However, US officials say that ties have only deepened.

The nuclear deal was an irritant at one time but now I don't see anything. What I feel this visit is going to be about how we seize new opportunities for cooperation for which some initiatives would be announced by the US President," said Robert Blake, the US assistant of state for South Asia.
 
But despite the claims of no love lost, the US-Pak relationship and Pak's repeated attempts at involving The US in Kashmir dialogues have always left an uncomfortable strain.

Even though, in recent times, Washington has gone out of its way to stress on the importance of the relationship with India, even pointing out that Obama will travel to Pakistan only next year, the question is how far can Delhi take this strategic engagement forward?