Nisha Biswal tells why India will likely receive more attention from US now

Biswal is known to speak her mind. When the Trump administration announced a sweeping ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, she was among the few who took a strong stance against it

In the rag-rolled and dimly-lit interior of Spicy Duck, the Chinese restaurant at Taj Palace, New Delhi, Nisha Biswal looks absolutely wrong. Diminutive for one thing, and too unpretentious in an off-white salwar-kameez and a hint of pecan lipstick. The Indian-origin diplomat, who has served as the Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs in the US Department of State under the Obama administration, approaches me with a wide grin and a gushing apology for being late.

“This is the first time that USIBC is hosting its annual general meeting in India rather than in Washington DC. So you can