Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal chemistry has emerged as a powerful tool in enhancing India's diplomatic engagements in the last one-year. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said a different approach is very much evident in dealing with international events and situations during the period. He was speaking at the launch of a book titled 'Modi's World, Expanding India's Sphere of Influence', authored by noted scholar C Raja Mohan in New Delhi Friday. Talking about a sense of change the way India handles its international relations, the Foreign Secretary referred to proactive approach in dealing with the neighbourhood, China and countries of the Pacific Island as well as African nations. He said, there is a sense of change in neighbourhood policy that puts a premium on connectivity, contacts and cooperation.<br/><br/>Mr. Jaishankar said a coherent Indian Ocean strategy is under implementation and visits to even nearby nations after decades and impending summits of the Pacific governments and African states represent the different mindset. He also referred to removal of the bottlenecks in implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal. The Foreign Secretary talked about the Prime Minister's visit to the US, China, Japan and a range of other issues including India's assistance to earthquake-hit Nepal. He said, India has seen a forward movement with the US France and Russia and work in progress with Australia and Japan.<br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader and former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said, the Prime Minister leaves positive impression during foreign visits. Citing instances like the International Yoga Day, the Congress MP acknowledged that Mr. Modi has done something in leveraging India's soft power. Mr Tharoor, however, said there has been no change on India's foreign policy front as Mr Modi has been pursuing the ones framed by the previous UPA government. He also said that the Prime Minister has taken a stand different from BJP on some key diplomatic issues like the Indo-Nuclear deal and land boundary agreement with Bangladesh. He said, the BJP had even brought a no-confidence vote against the UPA government on Indo-Nuclear Deal and had also refused to continue any discussion about the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh. But the Modi government took forward the nuclear deal and also ratified the agreement with Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal chemistry has emerged as a powerful tool in enhancing India's diplomatic engagements in the last one-year. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said a different approach is very much evident in dealing with international events and situations during the period. He was speaking at the launch of a book titled 'Modi's World, Expanding India's Sphere of Influence', authored by noted scholar C Raja Mohan in New Delhi Friday. Talking about a sense of change the way India handles its international relations, the Foreign Secretary referred to proactive approach in dealing with the neighbourhood, China and countries of the Pacific Island as well as African nations. He said, there is a sense of change in neighbourhood policy that puts a premium on connectivity, contacts and cooperation.<br/><br/>Mr. Jaishankar said a coherent Indian Ocean strategy is under implementation and visits to even nearby nations after decades and impending summits of the Pacific governments and African states represent the different mindset. He also referred to removal of the bottlenecks in implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal. The Foreign Secretary talked about the Prime Minister's visit to the US, China, Japan and a range of other issues including India's assistance to earthquake-hit Nepal. He said, India has seen a forward movement with the US France and Russia and work in progress with Australia and Japan.