Modi can handle terror issue & Kashmir: Trump
New York: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said his country would soon have a trade deal with India to boost economic ties between the two nations.
"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 here when asked if there is any trade deal is expected in the talks between India and the US.
"We will have a larger deal down the road ... but we will have a trade deal," Trump added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session and discussed with him bilateral ties.
The two countries are negotiating a trade package to iron out issues and promote two-way commerce.
The US has been pressuring India to lower duties on its products and address the trade gap.
Speaking at the press conference, Modi said: "As far as trade is concerned, I am very happy that in Houston, in my presence there was an agreement signed by Indian company Petronet for USD 2.5 billion, which is the amount of investment the Indian company is going to do in the energy sector and this will mean that in the years to come, this will result in trade of an amount of USD 60 billion and create 50,000 jobs which I think is a big initiative taken by India."
The US President that it will be great if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan can "work out something" on Kashmir, distancing himself from any mediation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Asked about what his message would be to Islamabad in view of the reports on Imran Khan's admission about terrorists operating from Pakistani soil and the Indian army chief's comments about terrorists standing ready to infiltrate into India, President Trump said: "The message (to Pakistan) is not for me to give, it is for Prime Minister Modi to give. And he gave that loud and clear the other day. I am sure he will be able to handle that situation".
