Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned down an invitation to meet former US President Donald Trump in June, according to a Bloomberg report.
Officials in New Delhi said Modi was concerned the meeting might lead to an unplanned encounter with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at the White House.
The report stated that while India was fine with Trump engaging Pakistan’s civilian leadership, hosting Field Marshal Munir was seen as harmful to India’s narrative.
The episode unfolded shortly after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in May, following a brief but intense four-day conflict.
Tensions between Modi and Trump had already been rising after Trump claimed he helped prevent a nuclear war. India rejected this statement, insisting the ceasefire was directly agreed upon by both nations without mediation.
On June 17, Modi spoke to Trump in a 35-minute phone call, telling him that India “does not and will never accept mediation.”
The conversation came just before Trump was scheduled to host Munir for lunch at the White House. Learning of this plan, Modi decided to skip Washington during his return from Canada, continuing instead to Croatia.
Bloomberg reported that relations between Washington and New Delhi worsened sharply after the incident. Trump began publicly criticising India, threatening a 50% tariff on Indian exports, and later imposing those tariffs. Modi and Trump have not spoken since their June call.
The report also comes as COAS Munir is set to visit the US for the second time in two months, attending the retirement ceremony of US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla.
His last visit in June included a rare one-on-one meeting with Trump, where regional security, trade, and emerging technologies were discussed.
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