ISLAMABAD: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this week.
This marks the second major international conference, after the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt, where Modi has chosen to avoid meeting US President Donald Trump.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier tweeted that “PM Modi is frightened of Trump.” With Modi skipping yet another summit, questions arise over why the world’s most populous country is not being represented by its top leader.
Gandhi and other critics suggest Modi is consciously avoiding Trump. As Gandhi tweeted,
“Modi seems intent on avoiding any engagement with Trump, despite global expectations.”
Critics have also highlighted Modi’s contradictory stance during the May conflict with Pakistan. On one hand, India’s leadership claims no Indian Air Force planes were downed; on the other, the same leaders remain silent whenever Trump asserts that seven jets were destroyed.
Trump has additionally claimed credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan, a claim Modi reportedly finds humiliating; yet has neither refuted nor directly addressed it with the US president.
Following a 50% tariff on Indian goods, Trump recently remarked that he had spoken with Modi about India ceasing Russian oil imports and warned against renewed conflict with Pakistan.
“We had a great conversation. We talked about trade… we did talk a little while ago about ‘let’s have no wars with Pakistan.’ And I think the fact that trade was involved, I was able to talk about that. And we have no war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very good thing,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during Diwali celebrations.
Critics note Modi’s silence over such remarks, suggesting it underscores a diminishing role for India on the global stage. While Modi has confirmed the phone calls, he has not addressed Trump’s claims regarding Pakistan.
This pattern has grown more pronounced in recent months. Once celebrated for events like “Howdy Modi” and “Namaste Trump,” the Indian leader now appears to avoid public engagements with the US president. Observers question what strategic advantage, if any, this silence serves.
At recent global gatherings, including the G20 and ASEAN summits, there have been no photo-ops, no side meetings, and little visible warmth between the two leaders.
The Nation commented on this shift, stating:
“Narendra Modi learns that not even Trump respects a bootlicker.”
On social media, numerous commentators have speculated about Modi’s reluctance to engage Trump, citing diplomatic caution, perceived slights, or a desire to recalibrate India’s global posture.
After repeatedly missing major international summits and claiming victory in regional conflicts, critics argue that Modi’s actions increasingly appear inconsistent with the image of a decisive global leader.
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