US yet to finalise dates for Modi visit

The U.S. has said that no dates have been finalised yet for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Washington visit.

“On Prime Minister Modi’s possible travel to the United States — nothing to announce on dates,” U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters.

“As President (Barack) Obama and Secretary (of State, John) Kerry have both said, we look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to Washington, just don’t have any dates yet. I know there are a lot of reports out there about dates, but we don’t have dates yet,” Ms. Harf said in response to a question.

Mr. Modi has accepted Mr. Obama’s invitation for a meeting in late September and the dates are being finalised, official sources in New Delhi had said earlier this week.

In New Delhi, a spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry on Friday said Mr. Obama was among the first foreign leaders to make a congratulatory call to Mr. Modi during which a specific invitation was made.

“We have received a specific date for the visit (from the U.S.). We are now in contact with the U.S. to work out mutually convenient date for Prime Minister to be in Washington for a summit-level meeting,” the spokesperson said.

However, he did not give dates and only said it will be in the month of September, at the time around the U.N. General Assembly.