Modi leaves for UK tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is evading questioning regarding his country’s defeat in May’s aggression against Pakistan and US President Donald Trump repeated assertions about his mediatory role for ceasefire and shooting down of Indian fighter planes during action, is leaving for yet another long foreign trip tomorrow (Wednesday).

In departing tradition, he is undertaking the visit when Indian Parliament’s important monsoon session began on Monday where his party was under heavy fire on account of several queries including outcome of Indian’s aggression against Pakistan. Modi’s BJP’s stalwarts failed in defending the government’s position and the House was adjourned amid rumpuses. Sources told The News/Jang here Monday that ever-since India had to suffer a humiliating defeat in May aggression at the hands of the Pakistan armed forces, Modi hasn’t come across any media question or faced any other forum about the war. In the meanwhile, the Indian External Affairs Ministry has said that Nerandra Modi will pay a four-day visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives to shore up overall bilateral ties and could ink the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It isn’t certain that the FTA would be signed during the visit or not.

Modi had returned from an extensive foreign visit early this month, now he will first travel to the UK on a two-day trip and then visit the Maldives to participate in the island nation’s Independence Day celebrations as the “guest of honour”. Modi’s visit to the Maldives from July 25 to 26 is seen as his desperate effort for a reset of bilateral ties that had come under severe strain after President Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, came to power in November 2023. In the first leg of his trip, Modi will visit the UK from July 23 to 24 to hold wide-ranging talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. From London, Modi will travel to the Maldives primarily to attend the island nation’s 60th anniversary of its Independence on July 26. Interestingly, Modi will dash to the Maldives straight from London, although he would be overflying Indian waters, without touching down. Sources pointed out that Modi is parrying pressures which are coming on him for his various actions and misdeeds committed by him inside India as well in recent years.