Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly refused to meet US President Donald Trump in June because he feared running into Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Bloomberg reported.
According to New Delhi reports, the American outlet said Modi worried that Trump might arrange an unexpected meeting between him and COAS Munir if both happened to be at the White House.
Indian officials were fine with Trump meeting Pakistan’s civilian leaders, but believed hosting Field Marshal Munir would hurt India’s narrative.
The incident happened weeks after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in May, following a brief four-day conflict.
Tensions between Modi and Trump had already risen after Trump repeatedly claimed he had prevented a nuclear war between the two countries — a claim India rejected, insisting the ceasefire came directly through talks between New Delhi and Islamabad.
On June 17, after the G7 summit in Canada, Trump and Modi spoke on the phone for 35 minutes. Modi made it clear that India “does not and will never accept mediation.” Officials say Modi decided to “set the record straight” after learning Trump had invited COAS Munir to lunch at the White House the next day.
To avoid the encounter, Modi skipped a stop in Washington on his way back from Canada and flew to Croatia instead.
The episode reportedly strained US–India relations. Trump began publicly criticising India, threatened a 50% tariff on its exports, and later imposed the tariffs. Modi and Trump have not spoken since that June call.
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