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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to skip the in-person attendance at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, opting instead for a virtual address, according to Bloomberg. The decision was influenced by concerns that discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump might focus on Pakistan, which India preferred to avoid.
Sources revealed that Indian officials were worried Trump might reiterate his claimed role in mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan—a claim India has consistently denied. Modi reportedly wanted to steer clear of a meeting with Trump, fearing it could cause embarrassment ahead of the Bihar state elections.
This isn’t the first time Modi has avoided meetings with Trump; he also refrained from attending the United Nations General Assembly last month. Diplomatic relations between India and the U.S. have soured since the China-India conflict five months ago. In August, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, with half of that penalty related to India’s Russian oil purchases. Negotiations to resolve trade issues are ongoing, but no agreement has been reached.
Trump has publicly claimed that his intervention prevented a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, stating in May that he helped avoid “a bad nuclear war” that could have killed millions. He praised his efforts to de-escalate tensions, emphasizing that his diplomacy and trade pressures played vital roles.
Following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India launched military strikes against Pakistan, which Islamabad denied involvement in. India’s retaliation involved unprovoked strikes on Pakistani targets, prompting Pakistan’s armed forces to respond with operations like Bunyan-Um-Marsoos. The conflict resulted in Pakistan downing seven Indian fighter jets, including Rafale, and numerous drones. After more than three days of fighting, a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. brought the conflict to a close on May 10.
Pakistan has credited President Trump with securing the ceasefire, even nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Trump as a genuine man of peace and praised his tireless efforts to end global conflicts, including in Gaza. The U.S. leader also expressed admiration for Pakistani military and political leaders, calling them “great people” during recent statements.
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