American magazine Bloomberg Claims, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi deliberately skipped the ASEAN summit in Malaysia to avoid meeting US President Donald Trump and potential discussions concerning Pakistan.

Bloomberg’s report reveals that Indian officials were apprehensive that President Trump might once again claim credit for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan — a statement that has previously caused diplomatic discomfort for New Delhi.

Relations between India and the United States have been tense since the military confrontation with Pakistan in May. Tensions escalated further in August when President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as one of the main reasons.

According to Bloomberg, Modi’s advisers believed that no substantial benefit could be achieved from a potential bilateral meeting with Trump during the ASEAN summit. Sources said that a phone call between the two leaders last week also failed to meet the expectations of the Indian side.

Modi’s absence from the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur is being described as highly unusual. Since assuming office in 2014, he has attended every summit in person except in 2022, while the 2020 and 2021 sessions were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.