NEW DELHI, 8 AUG

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after it was reported that the Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir was gearing up for a second visit to Pakistan in two months, following the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack.

Reacting to the development, Ramesh said that PM Modi's claims of a "special relationship" with US President Donald Trump stand exposed. He pointed out that the US doesn't have a regular Ambassador in New Delhi, despite having confirmed the same for countries like China.

"Prime Minister Modi has been claiming a special relationship with President Trump. That now stands exposed. Since January 2025, the US has not had a regular Ambassador in New Delhi, nor has it named anyone yet for confirmation by the US Senate - unlike for other key countries like China," the Congress leader posted on X.

Criticising the US administration, Ramesh held Munir's inflammatory speech responsible for the Pahalgam terror attacks that claimed 26 civilian lives.

"Field Marshal Asim Munir, whose incendiary and inflammatory remarks provided the immediate backdrop to the brutal terror attacks in Pahalgam on 22 April, 2025, appears to be a favourite of the US," he said.

Ramesh informed that Munir will be visiting the US to attend a farewell function of the US Central Command Chief General Michael Kurilla, who praised Pakistan, calling it "a phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism operations."

"He (Munir) was hosted to an unprecedented lunch on 18 June, 2025, in Washington, DC, by President Trump. The Pakistan Army Chief is soon going to America again to attend a farewell function for the retiring US Central Command Chief Gen Michael Kurilla--the same General Kurilla who had, on 10 June, 2025, called Pakistan, in his own words, 'a phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism operations.' What a bizarre certificate this was," he added.

In June, after Pakistani Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa attended a lunch event with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh raised concerns, stating that it was a significant blow to Indian diplomacy.