At the same summit, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly commended former US President Donald Trump
New Delhi: India’s low- presence at the Gaza peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, drew scrutiny after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly praised former US President Donald Trump for preventing the escalation of conflict between India and Pakistan.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor tweeted on Monady, 2025, highlighting that India was represented only at the level of a Minister of State, in contrast to heads of state and government leaders attending from other countries. He wrote:
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"India’s presence at the Sharm el-Sheikh Gaza peace summit, at the level of a Minister of State, stands in stark contrast to the heads of state gathered there. Strategic restraint or missed opportunity?… In a region reshaping itself, our relative absence is puzzling."
Tharoor’s tweet quickly gained traction on social media, with analysts and political commentators debating whether India’s limited representation could impact its influence on reconstruction and regional stability discussions at the summit.
Pak PM hails Trump for India-Pakistan ceasefire
During the same summit, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly thanked Trump for helping avert a potential conflict between India and Pakistan, describing him as a “man of peace.” Sharif stated that millions of lives were saved due to Trump’s intervention and announced Pakistan’s support for nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He said:
"I would say that Pakistan had nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his outstanding, extraordinary contribution to first stop war between India and Pakistan and then achieve ceasefire along with his very wonderful team."
Sharif’s remarks, delivered in front of Trump and other Middle East leaders, underscored Pakistan’s diplomatic appreciation for international intervention in South Asia.
India’s strategic position at the summit
India was represented by Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh. While officials maintain that India’s participation reflects a measured and strategic diplomatic approach, critics argue that limited representation reduces India’s visibility and influence in discussions on Gaza’s reconstruction and regional security. Analysts noted that protocol and access at such summits are heavily influenced by the rank of representatives, suggesting India may have missed a chance to assert its voice fully.
Global context
The Sharm El-Sheikh summit brought together regional leaders alongside Trump, focusing on implementing the Gaza ceasefire following the release of hostages and agreements to stabilise conflict zones. The summit aimed to coordinate humanitarian aid, maintain ceasefire compliance, and foster long-term peace in the region.
The juxtaposition of Pakistan’s praise for Trump’s intervention in South Asia and Tharoor’s questioning of India’s representation has reignited debates over India’s foreign policy approach in multilateral peace processes. Observers note that while India maintains strong bilateral relations, low-level presence at high-profile summits may limit its ability to influence outcomes on critical issues affecting regional stability.
Published: 14 Oct 2025, 12:02 am IST
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