Modi skipped Trump meeting over fears of encounter with Gen Asim Munir: Bloomberg

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned down a meeting with US President Donald Trump in June over concerns that it could lead to a potential encounter with Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to a report in Bloomberg. 

The detailed report, which highlights how U.S.-India relations have strained in recent months, noted that Modi was wary of meeting with the Pakistani Army Chief. The American outlet, quoting officials in New Delhi, reported that Modi was concerned Trump might facilitate a meeting between him and the Pakistani Army Chief, if both happened to be at the White House at the same time.

As the US president continued to claim credit for averting a nuclear war, Indian diplomats began publicly challenging his account. Tensions culminated during a June 17 phone call between Trump and Narendra Modi, held after Trump left the G7 summit in Canada early and was unable to meet Modi in person. The events of May and June shed light on the sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries, culminating this week with Trump’s announcement of a 50 percent tariff on Indian exports to the U.S.

Earlier this month, Trump lashed out at India, calling it a “dead” economy with “obnoxious” trade barriers and accusing it of showing little concern for Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia. Modi and Trump have not spoken since their phone call in June. 

While the rupture in US-India ties was abrupt, there have been strains in the relationship. Delhi has repeatedly rebutted Trump’s repeated statements that the US brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after four days of fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May. Trump also hosted Pakistan’s army chief at the White House in the weeks following the conflict.

The two leaders spoke over the phone at the insistence of Trump on the sidelines of June’s G7 summit in Canada, which Modi attended as a guest. The call lasted 35 minutes. “PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan,” Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had said of the talk. “Talks for ceasing military action happened directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, and on the insistence of Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and will never do,” he said.

Bloomberg reported today that “tensions came to a head” between the two leaders in the call with Trump’s repeated claiming of credit and India’s downplaying of the matter.

 “Modi felt like he needed to set the record straight in the call after his aides discovered that Trump planned to host a lunch the following day at the White House for Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir,” the report cited officials in New Delhi familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to speak about confidential discussions.

 “While India had no problem if Trump met Pakistan’s civilian leaders, hosting Munir was seen as giving legitimacy to a military that Modi’s government accuses of supporting militant groups, they said. Wary that Trump would look to orchestrate a meeting between Munir and Modi, the Indian leader turned down an invitation to stop by the White House on the way back from Canada, they said, adding that he was also committed to visiting Croatia,” the report said.

It added that since the phone call, “India saw a shift in tone from the White House after that phone call, according to the officials in New Delhi” despite the US not making a direct request for Modi to acknowledge Trump’s role. “Once Trump began publicly attacking India, they added, it was clear the episode marked a turning point in the broader relationship,” the report said.