KUALA LUMPUR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia to avoid a potential meeting with US President Donald Trump, where the issue of Pakistan might have been raised, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday.
Modi, who was expected to attend the summit in person, backed out at the last moment and joined the discussions virtually instead. The decision, reportedly influenced by concerns within the Indian government, came as officials feared that Trump might reignite his claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after their four-day border clash in May.
Sources cited by Bloomberg suggested that Modi’s absence was politically strategic, as he is currently the lead campaigner for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar’s crucial state elections. His team reportedly worried that any remarks by Trump about Pakistan could create political backlash and damage BJP’s electoral prospects.
Opposition leaders from the Congress Party criticized Modi’s sudden withdrawal, alleging he avoided direct engagement with world leaders to escape uncomfortable questions on India’s relations with Pakistan.
The ASEAN Summit, hosted in Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, brought together leaders from ten Southeast Asian nations and their global partners. However, Modi’s virtual appearance stood out, fueling speculation about his motives.
Bloomberg also noted that this wasn’t the first time Modi had declined an invitation involving Trump he had previously turned down a White House visit in August, reportedly fearing a possible meeting with Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
