Business Standard MUMBAI I THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 2017 After Trump phone call, govt weighs if Modi should visit US early ARCH IS MOHAN New Delhi,29 March The Monday night phone call of US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Narendra Modi could pave the way for an early visit of the Indian PM to Washington. The Trump administration is keen to host Modi. But South Block is look- ing at the potential deliverables from such a visit, particularly on H1B visas. The Indian PM's political stature has increased manifold after his recent elec- toral successes, while Trump's presidential tenure has moved from one problem to another. Delhi doesn't want Modi to invest his substantial political capital to help Trump burnish his image, without the visit yielding positive results for the Indian side. Modi is scheduled to visit New York to attend the UN General Assembly in September. But, the Trump- Modi telephonic conversation has indicated to South Block, and to those who look at foreign policy issues within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that the Trump administration is keen to host the Indian PM for a bilateral visit in the next couple of months. Earlier this month, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, accom- panied by Commerce Secretary Prime Minister Narendra Modi Rita Teaotia, was in the US. Last week, National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval was also on a visit to the US. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and US Secretary of State Rex W US President Donald Trump Tillerson had also recently spo- ken over the phone. In his phone call, Trump congratulated Modi on his recent state election victories, expressed support for his eco- nomic reforms and said he had great respect for Indians, and said he looked forward to host- ing the PM later this year. The window for such a visit is available in May, as well as in June after the PM attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organ- isation Summit in Kazakhstan in the second week.