
As he brings to a close India’s recent nuclear initiative, the boldest diplomatic foray since the 1971 war to liberate Bangladesh, the PM has also begun a new conversation with Bush on South Asia. For decades,
India and the US were on the opposing sides of the Great Game on India’s north-western borders. Thanks to Bush, India and the United States can now consider unprecedented political cooperation to stabilise Pakistan and Afghanistan. That no one had bet on this remarkable strategic turn may be the most definitive testimony to Bush’s historic contribution to the transformation of Indo-US relations.