There was more to Narendra Modi’s visit to the US than the razzmatazz of Madison Square Garden and Central Park. He had gone to the US after three basic foreign policy initiatives, and was making a statement on the world stage beyond the confines of the UNGA.

Significantly, his first visits were to the Himalayan countries of Nepal and Bhutan, both bordering Tibet. The immediate neighbourhood has to be peaceful for India’s well-being. There were also early Indian interactions with Vietnam and Myanmar.