PM Narendra Modi to visit US to attend QUAD meeting, UN General Assembly

During the visit that comes after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the situation of the country and its impact on the region are on the agenda, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said.

Shringla said PM Narendra Modi will leave India on Wednesday and return on Sep 26.

This will be the PM's first visit abroad beyond the neighborhood since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.

The PM visited Bangladesh in March this year.

Modi will hold a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on September 24, and the two sides will discuss the current regional security situation following recent developments in Afghanistan, the Foreign Secretary said.

"In this context they would discuss the need to stem radicalism, extremism, cross border terrorism, and the dismantling of global terrorists network," he said.

Among other things, discussions are to be held on reform of the multilateral systems including the UNSC.

The meeting of QUAD will be held at the White House on September 24, and will be attended by Australian PM Scott Morrison, Japan PM Yoshihide Suga along with Modi and Biden.

"We see QUAD as a partnership among four like minded countries in pursuit of common interests in striving for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. At the summit in March leaders had announced a broad array of initiatives," he said.

Covid-19 pandemic will also be an important focus during the visit, and PM Modi will participate in the Covid-19 global summit hosted by President Biden tomorrow.

(With UNI inputs)