PM Modi’s ‘Vishwaguru’ image under question after Trump praises Pakistan army chief: Congress

“The time for sloganeering, grandstanding, bragging, and lecturing is over as far as Indian diplomacy is concerned. The self-styled Vishwaguru and his band of chelas stand brutally exposed,” Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

Ramesh highlighted that Trump has repeatedly met Munir at the White House, including twice in the last three months. “Not only has the US President met with Field Marshal Asim Munir in the White House twice in the last three months, but now Mr. Trump says he loved the way the Field Marshal praised him for saving lives by stopping the conflict between India and Pakistan on May 10th. Mr. Trump went on to say that his all-powerful chief of staff described the Field Marshal's tribute as 'a most beautiful thing',” the Congress leader said.

Ramesh also pointed to Munir’s controversial history, saying he has a record of “incendiary, inflammatory, and communally vicious statements,” referring specifically to a speech he gave just before the April 22 Pahalgam terror attacks, which set the troubling backdrop for the incident.

Trump, addressing military leaders in Quantico on Tuesday, repeated his claim of ending a “very big conflict” between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan, despite India’s denial. “I have settled so many wars. I’ve settled seven. And yesterday we might have settled the biggest of them all, although I don’t know, Pakistan and India was very big, both nuclear powers. I settled that,” he said. Trump added that he was “honoured” by the praise from Munir, whom he described as “a very important guy in Pakistan.”

Ramesh said the episode highlights growing diplomatic challenges for India not only with the US but with several other countries, signalling a reality check for Modi’s image as a global leader.