The Congress on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government following US President Donald Trump’s decision to host Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House. The opposition described the event as a “significant setback” for Indian diplomacy.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, took to X to highlight that Munir, unlike a head of state or government, holds a military position yet was warmly received by Trump.
“This is the same individual whose inflammatory remarks provided the backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks, orchestrated by the establishment he oversees,” Ramesh stated, referring to the 22 April attack that killed 26 people.
Ramesh called the meeting a “huge blow to Indian diplomacy (and huglomacy too),” taking a jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s penchant for embracing foreign leaders, a practice Congress has dubbed “huglomacy.”
The Congress has repeatedly criticised Modi’s diplomatic style, particularly his warm gestures during international engagements. Meanwhile, Trump, speaking to the media in the Oval Office after hosting Munir on Wednesday, praised both Modi and Munir for averting a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Notably, this marked the first time in weeks that Trump refrained from claiming personal credit for de-escalating tensions between the two nations.
Trump described the leaders of India and Pakistan as “very smart” and expressed gratitude for their decision to halt hostilities, which he noted could have escalated into a nuclear war. He also mentioned ongoing trade deal discussions with both countries, adding that Modi had visited the White House recently.
However, Congress seized on Trump’s remarks to accuse Modi’s government of failing to counter what they called misleading claims by the US President. Pawan Khera, head of Congress’ media and publicity department, questioned the credibility of Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs, asking why India’s position was not clearly conveyed during a 35-minute phone call between Modi and Trump on Tuesday, 17 June.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had stated that Modi used the call to brief Trump on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack, which destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled areas. Misri emphasised that India had paused its strikes at Pakistan’s request, not due to US mediation or trade incentives, and reiterated India’s rejection of third-party mediation.
Despite this, Trump repeated his claim hours later that he had “stopped the war” and was close to signing a trade deal with India. Khera, quoting Trump’s remarks on X, accused the US President of undermining the narrative put forth by Modi’s “PR machinery.” He questioned, “Is the word of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of External Affairs now so weak that they cannot clearly present India’s position in a half-hour call with the US President?”
Khera also accused the government of remaining silent when Trump “hyphenated” India and Pakistan, and now Modi and Munir, equating the two nations and their leaders. “The Opposition objected when Trump linked India and Pakistan, and we will never accept this insult to the office of India’s Prime Minister,” he said, urging Modi to publicly refute Trump’s claims.