The Congress party on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, questioning their silence over the United States’ recent outreach to Pakistan, especially the official visit of Pakistan’s Army chief General Asim Munir to Washington D.C.

The criticism came in the wake of heightened geopolitical tensions at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, and shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump left the Summit prematurely, further raising questions about the relevance of India's foreign engagements at the global forum.

Jairam Ramesh Criticises US Engagement with Pakistan

In a strongly worded post on X, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh questioned why the Indian leadership had not reacted to the presence of General Asim Munir in the US, especially given his alleged links to terrorist incidents in Kashmir.

“So now it can no longer be denied by the drumbeaters of the PM and the BJP's troll army. The man whose incendiary, inflammatory, and provocative remarks were directly linked to the Pahalgam terror attacks is now officially in Washington D.C.,” he posted.

He further added:

“The question we had asked earlier needs to be repeated: What is America up to by hosting Asim Munir in this manner? Why are the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister silent on this outrageous American outreach to Pakistan?”

The statement reflects a deep concern in opposition ranks about India's diplomatic response to developments that could impact national security and regional stability.

Jibe at Modi’s ‘Huglomacy’ and G7 Diplomacy

In another post, Ramesh mocked Modi’s diplomatic style, referring to it as “huglomacy”, a term often used by the Congress to criticise the Prime Minister’s personal gestures—particularly his penchant for hugging world leaders during international engagements.

He noted that President Trump’s decision to leave the G7 Summit early, just before the G7 outreach session—where India was among the invited countries—represented a diplomatic blow.

“President Trump has left the G-7 Summit a day before the G-7 outreach with eight other countries that includes India begins. A setback for self-styled Vishwaguru's Huglomacy,” Ramesh wrote.

The G7 outreach session, typically involving key non-member invitees like India, was seen as an opportunity for India to push its global priorities. Trump's absence, however, appeared to undermine that platform.

Supriya Shrinate’s Sharp Questions

Adding to the criticism, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate posted on X about Trump’s early departure from the G7 and his discussions about expanding the group to include Russia and China, but not India.

“Trump has returned to America from G-7 meeting. Trump did not stay for outreach meeting to which Modi is invited. Trump talked about expanding the G-7 to include Russia and China. Not India,” Shrinate posted.

She sarcastically questioned Modi’s public portrayal of Trump as a personal friend:

“Did the devotees perform yagya to make him the President? This is Modi’s ‘my friend’?”

These remarks aimed to underscore what the Congress sees as Modi’s misplaced confidence in personal relationships with global leaders, especially in the face of shifting geopolitical realities.

G7 in Crisis Over Iran-Israel Conflict

President Trump’s abrupt exit from the G7 Summit came amid rising global tensions. On Monday (June 16), he left a day before the outreach meeting with invited countries including India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, and others.

The reason cited was the escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran. The United States has reportedly backed Israel’s aerial bombardment of Iranian military assets, while Trump declared that “Tehran should be evacuated immediately.”

This sudden focus on the Iran crisis disrupted the summit’s goal of defusing global conflict, with world leaders struggling to respond to a rapidly intensifying situation.

Congress Questions Foreign Policy Success Claims

The Congress has used the timing of these developments to question Modi’s foreign policy credibility, especially in the context of the government’s claim that India is now a global leader or ‘Vishwaguru’.

Party leaders suggest that the lack of clear diplomatic positioning, coupled with America’s direct engagement with Pakistan and the absence of strong Indian response, contradicts the government’s narrative.

Congress also argues that India's exclusion from G7 expansion discussions, especially when Russia and China are being mentioned, reveals a diplomatic marginalisation.

The Bigger Picture: Foreign Policy Under Scrutiny

This latest political exchange reflects mounting opposition pressure on the Modi government to assert India’s interests more robustly on the international stage.

While PM Modi was engaged in bilateral meetings with several global leaders on the sidelines of the G7, including the UK, France, South Korea, Italy, and Mexico, the Congress narrative focuses on what is being left unsaid—especially the Pakistan factor.

With India’s national elections still a few years away, these criticisms may not immediately impact foreign policy, but they do expose the fault lines in domestic political discourse on international diplomacy.

As global crises—from Iran to Ukraine—reshape alliances, India’s diplomatic strategy and responses will continue to be under intense domestic political and public scrutiny

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