The hotlines or secure lines of communication between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama and their national security advisers have recently become operational, though it has not been put to use during its short lifespan so far. For India this is the first hotline at the level of head of state. With this India becomes only the fourth country– after Russia, Great Britain and China – with which the US has a hotline and Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to get a direct Hotline to Barack Obama.

“This is a secure line between two very very close partners so that they can exchange views at the heads of state level…exchange views and co-ordinate approaches to solving real problems,” said the top White House official.

When was this decision taken?

India’s existing hotlines:

• In 2004, India and Pakistan agreed to establish hotlines at the level of foreign secretaries, and in 2010 New Delhi and Beijing announced to establish a hotline at the foreign minister level. According to publicly available information the hotline between India and Pakistan was established with the help of US military.
• India-China hotline is yet to become operational.

During their New Delhi meeting the two leaders also decided to meet frequently. The two are most likely to meet in New York late September when Modi comes to the US to attend the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.