New Delhi, Sep 6 (NationPress) Former Indian Ambassador to France and Monaco, Jawed Ashraf, expressed his approval of US President Donald Trump's recent commendation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it “a very welcome development” and “an early step in the process of cooling tensions in bilateral relations.

Trump referred to PM Modi as “a great Prime Minister” and “a friend,” despite existing tensions between India and the US regarding tariffs and India's procurement of Russian oil. Trump further stated he will “always be friends with PM Modi.”

In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Ashraf highlighted the importance of Trump's tone and its broader diplomatic consequences.

“This is a very welcome development. Over the past few weeks, President Trump has often employed harsh language regarding the relationship. Nevertheless, he has consistently maintained a positive rapport with PM Modi and a respect for his leadership. The tone of his recent comments is notably encouraging,” Ashraf remarked.

“PM Modi also replied with a constructive message. This signifies an early move towards de-escalating tensions between the two nations,” he added.

The former ambassador noted that Trump deliberately avoided mentioning India-Pakistan matters in his recent remarks—something he has previously done, often creating controversy.

“We’ve observed a shift. Trump did not reference India-Pakistan or his alleged role in any ceasefire, as he has in the past. This suggests a process of reducing tensions,” Ashraf stated.

Emphasizing India's consistent diplomatic approach, he remarked, “India has adopted a non-confrontational stance. We have not engaged in verbal conflicts with President Trump or his administration. We’ve stood firm on our red lines, especially regarding trade, sensitive sectors, and our sovereign choices on global partnerships.”

Ashraf underscored India's policy of strategic autonomy, indicating that relationships with global powers like Russia, China, or the US can coexist without being mutually exclusive.

Referring to the recent SCO Summit and widely circulated images of PM Modi with Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping, he noted: “Those visuals raised concerns in the US. They feared losing ties with India and Russia. However, for us, it’s not about choosing sides. Our principle has always been explicit: partnerships with one country do not negate relationships with another. This strategy has benefited us, even in challenging times.”