Report: Modi skipped Trump meeting to avoid possible White House encounter with Pakistan Army Chief

A Bloomberg report has revealed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined an invitation to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in June, concerned that the meeting could result in an awkward encounter with Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Quoting officials in New Delhi, Bloomberg said Modi believed Trump might arrange a face-to-face between him and the Pakistani Army Chief if both were present at the White House.

The revelation comes as relations between Washington and New Delhi have deteriorated sharply in recent months. Trump’s repeated statements that he helped prevent a nuclear conflict in South Asia have drawn public rebuttals from Indian diplomats.

Tensions escalated after a June 17 phone call between the two leaders, held because Trump left the G7 summit in Canada early and missed a planned meeting with Modi.

This week, Trump announced a 50% tariff on Indian exports, further straining ties. Earlier in July, he described India’s economy as “dead,” criticised “obnoxious” trade policies, and accused the country of showing indifference toward Ukrainian civilian deaths in the war with Russia. The two leaders have not spoken since June.