India-US relations in very good health, says foreign minister S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar on Tuesday addressed a press conference in Delhi during which he highlighted achievements of the foreign ministry in first 100 days of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government. 

Talking about India-US relations, Jaishankar said that it has "come a long way," and assured that it is in "very good health." 

"India-US relations have come a long way, I assure you that relations are in very good health. As the relationship grows there will be issues. We've been talking to the US, my expectation is that the sharper edges will be addressed in the not too distant future."

On India's relations with its neighbouring countries, Jaishankar said, "We hope to build a better, stronger neighbourhood but recognising that we have a unique challenge from one neighbour (Pakistan) until the issue of cross border terrorism is successfully addressed."

"There is a strong link between domestic and foreign policy, " Jaishankar said, adding, "The co-relation between our national policy goals and foreign policy goals has become stronger."

"I think today if you look at the big debates at multilateral forums - G20, BRICS, you will see that the Indian voice, Indian views are today heard much more clearly," the foreign minister added.

Referring to PM Modi's upcoming US visit, Jaishankar said, "The diaspora is, of course, the forte and in many ways somewhat unique aspect of our foreign policy and that is underlined by what is going to be coming up very soon in the United States which is a big diaspora event in partnership with our Indian-American community."

PM Modi will address the largest Indian diaspora event in Houston, Texas on September 22, which will see the participation of 50,000 people, mostly Indian Americans.

The event will also be attended by US President Donald Trump.

The event, bigger than the Madison Square Garden diaspora event in New York in 2014, is being hosted by Texas India Forum.

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the US between September 21 and 27 during which he will also address the United Nations General Assembly, meet US CEOs and hold several bilaterals with many world leaders. This is the second Modi will be addressing the UNGA.