New Delhi: The Congress party has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi chair an all-party meeting upon his return from his three-nation tour to brief leaders on his telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump.

The opposition expressed concern over Trump's scheduled lunch with Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, terming it a "huge setback" for Indian diplomacy. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that PM Modi should have conveyed India's displeasure on this matter to Trump during their conversation.

Ramesh criticised the government's diplomatic approach, saying it relies too heavily on optics and lacks substance. He emphasized the need for transparency and collective will, urging PM Modi to take the nation into confidence. Ramesh also questioned why PM Modi didn't take opposition leaders into confidence, suggesting that if Indira Gandhi were the prime minister, she would have definitely conveyed her displeasure to the US President.

Speaking with PTI, Ramesh said, "This is a triple jhatka for Indian diplomacy. Today Field Marshal Munir, whose incendiary, inflammatory, provocative and unacceptable remarks formed the background to the Pahalgam terror attack, is set to have lunch with President Trump. The same military man who is not the head of government is being invited for a special one-on-one lunch with President Trump. This is a huge setback."

He also added that US General Michael Kurilla called Pakistan a "phenomenal partner" in counter-terror operations, contradicting India's stance. Ramesh called this the second blow to PM Modi's diplomatic policies.

"He (Trump) says he used trade as an instrument, equating India and Pakistan. He said this 14 times and the PM has not said anything since May 10. So this is a triple setback," the Congress leader said.

The government, however, has denied any foreign mediation in the de-escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, PM Modi conveyed to Trump that India acted on its own terms and didn't accept any third-party mediation.