Is President Trump acting on his recent ultimatum for India's Modi?

[enhanced_deficit]

Or is this move just coincidence following recent reports that Afghanistan situation was taking a turn for the worse?


http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/25/trump-tightens-h-1b-visa-rules-what-you-need-to-know/


Trump tightens H-1B visa rules: What you need to know
New rules from Trump Administration will make it harder for visa holders to extend their stay in the U.S.

By Patrick May | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: October 25, 2017

This morning’s headline at one Indian news website said it all: “Trouble for Indian Techies”



Trump's Afghanistan strategy includes a new ultimatum for India

Matthew Pennington, Associated Press
Aug. 22, 2017

"We appreciate India's important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development," Trump said.
He didn't elaborate, but the threat was clear, especially given Trump's regular chafing over countries enjoying significant trade surpluses with the United States. Either India must pony up more money for what the Trump administration is calling its "regional approach" to Afghanistan, or it could face commercial repercussions.

The U.S. deficit in goods and services with India last year was about $30 billion. Trump also is reviewing a work visa program heavily used by Indians.

http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-trumps-afghanistan-strategy-includes-new-ultimatum-on-india-2017-8





Related

Over 200 civilians/Afghan forces killed, Trump's Afghan war policy failing already? (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?516138-Over-200-civilians-Afghan-forces-killed-Trump-s-Afghan-war-escalation-failing-already&)

Interpreting Trump’s not-so-subtle threat to India to do more in Afghanistan (https://qz.com/1063325/interpreting-donald-trumps-not-so-subtle-threat-to-india-to-do-more-in-afghanistan/)
One, this is a clear and overt threat: cooperate or else. President Trump has been waving the trade flag in all his perorations concerning India. He has been unequivocal about seeking enhanced market access for US goods and services. The joint press statement issued during prime minister Narendra Modi’s Washington DC visit has him saying: “It is important that barriers be removed to the export of US goods into your markets, and that we reduce our trade deficit with your country.” Indo-US trade touched $114.8 billion during 2016, with India enjoying a $30.8-billion trade surplus. It would seem Trump has made India’s trade with the US contingent upon cooperation in Afghanistan.

[enhanced_deficit]

These news coming out right after SoS Tillerson's Afghanistan visit is probably just coincidence:

Economic Times 17h ago
Indian-American billionaire charged with leading pharmaceutical fraud scheme in US
Oct 27, 2017
An Indian-American billionaire founder of a pharmaceutical company was arrested on Thursday in the US for allegedly leading a nationwide conspiracy to bribe doctors to prescribe a powerful opioid to patients who don't need it. John Kapoor, 74, was taken into custody in Phoenix, Arizona. Kapoor is the founder and former CEO of the pharmaceutical company Insys Therapeutics.




Un-related

Mysterious discrepancies spotted In Tillerson photographs with Afghanistan president (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/23/mysterious-discrepancies-spotted-in-tillerson-photographs-with-afghanistan-president.html)

Fox News
http://a57.foxnews.com/images.foxnews.com/content/fox-news/politics/2017/10/23/mysterious-discrepancies-spotted-in-tillerson-photographs-with-afghanistan-president/_jcr_content/par/featured_image/media-0.img.jpg/931/524/1508826014150.jpg?ve=1&tl=1&text=big-top-image
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. (U.S. State Department and Office of the President of Afghanistan.)
An apparent crude attempt to alter photographs of a meeting between Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday in Kabul has set the Internet abuzz with questions.

[enhanced_deficit]

Some encouraging news, timing is probably just coincidence and Trump could ignore Iran factor in such a case:


India on Sunday shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan

By The Associated Press
NEW DELHI — Oct 29, 2017, 7:20 AM ET

India on Sunday shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Iran's strategic Chahbahar Port, launching a trade route bypassing longtime rival Pakistan.

The shipment, an Indian gift for Afghanistan, was sent from the western seaport of Kandla. It will be taken by trucks to Afghanistan from the Iranian port.

The new trade route follows an air freight corridor introduced between India and Afghanistan in June last year to provide greater access for Afghan goods to the Indian market.
In his new Afghanistan strategy unveiled in August, U.S. President Donald Trump asked India to do more to help Afghanistan's development.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/india-starts-trade-route-afghanistan-iran-50793000

[enhanced_deficit]

US committee passes bill increasing minimum pay of H1B visa holders to $90,000

If made into law, this bill could prove a deterrent to organisations hiring Indian techies.
TNM Staff

Friday, November 17, 2017


http://www.thenewsminute.com/sites/default/files/styles/news_detail/public/The%20White%20House%20FB.jpg?itok=NKBfQfzD


In what could prove to be a hurdle for Indian IT companies, a key US Congressional Committee has voted in favour of passing a legislation that proposes to increase the minimum salaries of H1B visa holders from $60,000 to $90,000, reported PTI.
The Protect and Grow American Jobs Act (HR 170), which also proposes several other restrictions on H1B visa holders, a majority of whom are Indian, was passed by the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
According to the PTI report, the bill will next head to the full House. A similar version of the bill will also have to be passed by the Senate after which US President Donald Trump can sign it into law.
Following Trump's election on a protectionist platform, the US has announced stricter norms for issuing the H1B and L1 visas.

H1B visas are one of the most opted visas in the US that provide skilled workers from foreign countries work in a wide range of specialty occupations, including information technology, academic research, and accounting. It is used mostly by Indian IT professionals.

In April, the US administration began enforcing stricter bureaucratic norms for the issuance of H1B visas in order to prevent "fraud and abuse" in the programme.




Suicide bomber kills 14 at political meeting in Afghanistan

By The Associated Press



KABUL, Afghanistan — Nov 16, 2017

A suicide bomber killed 14 people at a political gathering in the Afghan capital on Thursday in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said another 18 people were wounded, and that the casualties included security forces and civilians. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the attacker struck at the entrance to the wedding hall where the event was being held.
The Islamic State group claimed the attack in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. The Taliban (http://abcnews.go.com/topics/news/world/taliban-afghanistan.htm) denied involvement.

Afghan security forces have struggled to combat the Taliban and other insurgents since the U.S. and NATO shifted to a counterterrorism and support role at the end of 2014. The Taliban have seized a number of districts across the country, and both groups have carried out major attacks.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/afghan-official-suicide-bomber-kills-political-meeting-51190352