Trump, US first lady will travel to India in late February

US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit India on February 24-25 and travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad, the White House said on Monday.

The latter city is the largest in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat and played an important role in Mahatma Gandhi’s life and leadership of the Indian independence movement.

Press secretary Stephanie Grisham said Trump and Modi spoke by telephone over the weekend, and agreed the trip would strengthen the strategic partnership between the two counties and highlight the strong bonds between the American and Indian people.

The leaders have developed a warm relationship over the past few years.

The visit comes as Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces mass protests at home against a recent controversial citizenship law and a possible defeat in a key regional election.

It remains to be seen whether Kashmir will make it to the discussions between the two leaders, as India continues to face backlash over its lockdown in the occupied territory since August 5 when it unilaterally revoked the area’s special status.

Trump over the last year has offered to mediate between Pakistan and India multiple times but has been rebuked by the latter.