John Kerry travels to India

US Secretary of State John Kerry is in the middle of a three day trip to New Dehli.

It's Mr. Kerry's first visit to India under new prime minister Narendra Modi, and comes after months of strained relations between the countries.

Rebecca Foster has the perspective on the trip from Washington.

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REPORTER VOICEOVER:

Fresh off the back off diplomatic negotiations regarding the situations in Ukraine as well as Gaza, US Secretary of State John Kerry is turning to another challenge - mending the tense relationship between the US and India.

He's off on a three day trip to New Delhi, where he says he hopes to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation between the countries.

He expressed optimism ahead of his trip.

SUPER:

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY:

The United States and India can and should be indispensable partners for the 21st century, and that is, I assure you, the way we approach the Modi government and the way we view this particular time.

REPORTER VOICEOVER:

But Mr. Kerry's visit comes as the India-US relationship is tense -

The countries recently had a public row over the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York.

Devyani Khobragade was detained over accusations of visa fraud.

Authorities in New York insisted their treatment of Ms. Khobragade was in line but Indian officials said she should have been treated with diplomatic immunity - and the issue riled the Indian public.

SUPER:

ROBERT HATHAWAY, DIRECTOR OF ASIA PROGRAM, WILSON CENTER:
Many in India took great offense at what they regarded as an affront to Indian dignity. So it was interesting. Many in India seized less on the fact that she probably actually had committed a crime, she certainly was treating her domestic help unfairly. Instead they focused on issues of humiliation - a perceived slap to India.

REPORTER VOICEOVER:
During this visit, Mr. Kerry will try to smooth relations between the Obama Administration and India's new PM Narendra Modi.

But that task may not be easy - For many years, the US accused Mr. Modi of having a role in India's bloody anti Muslim riot in Gujarat in 2002.

SUPER:

ROBERT HATHAWAY, DIRECTOR OF ASIA PROGRAM, WILSON CENTER:
As a consequence of these allegations, the United States government refused to give Mr. Modi a Visa to come to the United States. And Mr. Modi has not been here ever since 2002. At the time of the general election in India earlier this year, there was some speculation as to whether, if the BJP won, which of course they did, whether the United States would revoke its Visa ban. Well, that was sort of silly talk because of course the United States was going to revoke its ban.

REPORTER VOICEOVER:
Presidents from other countries - notably Russia and China - have already met with India's new prime minister - leading some to say the Obama Administration - and other Western nations - have waited too long to try and cement India's relationship with the West.

But Mr Kerry has noted his visit comes within the first 100 days of the Prime Minister's term - and says there are many places for the countries to work together - including technology, energy, and climate change.

SUPER:

SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY:

With fewer limits on foreign technology and investment in India’s green energy sector, we can help make clean power more cost-effective and more accessible at the same time. We can provide 400 million Indians with power without creating emissions that dirty the air and endanger public health. And by working together to help an entire generation of Indians leapfrog over fossil fuels, we can actually set an example to the world.

ON CAMERA REPORTER / SUPER:

REBECCA FOSTER, WASHINGTON

Accompanying the Secretary on his trip are representatives from the US Departments of Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, and NASA.

But they won't be the only ones traveling - US President Barack Obama expects to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the White House in September - to further strengthen US-India ties.