A TENSE phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump — a day before the latter was scheduled to host Field Marshall Asim Munir at the White House — became the basis for the current breakdown in relations between New Delhi and Washington, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

Trump’s recent imposition of a whopping 50pc tariff on Indian goods — a punishment of sorts for New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil — was the latest in a series of moves that left little doubt that he is not too happy with India.

According to Bloomberg, while the rupture in ties was abrupt, there had been strains in the relationship.

The US president has, on more than two dozen occasions so far, boasted of how he managed to talk the two nuclear armed neighbours back from the brink in May of this year.

Modi turned down invite to Washington after G7 summit out of fear US president might arrange meeting with Pakistan’s army chief, claims Bloomberg report

In stark contrast, PM Modi and other Indian officials have repeatedly denied any such pressure, insisting instead that the ceasefire was brought about through existing channels, and at Pakistan’s insistence.

On Friday, Bloomberg reported that “tensions came to a head” between the two leaders in the call with Trump’s repeated claiming of credit and India’s downplaying of the matter.

The two leaders had spoken over the phone at the insistence of Trump on the sidelines of June’s G7 summit in Canada, which Modi attended as a guest.

Trump had famously left the summit early and returned to Washington, effectively scuttling chances of a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of that summit.

“Modi felt like he needed to set the record straight in the call after his aides discovered that Trump planned to host a lunch the following day at the White House for Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir,” the report said, quoting officials in New Delhi.

“While India had no problem if Trump met Pakistan’s civilian leaders, hosting Munir was seen as giving legitimacy to a military that Modi’s government accuses of supporting militant groups,” they said.

“Wary that Trump would look to orchestrate a meeting between Munir and Modi, the Indian leader turned down an invitation to stop by the White House on the way back from Canada,” the report said.

India saw a shift in tone from the White House after that phone call, according to the officials in New Delhi.

“Once Trump began publicly attacking India, they added, it was clear the episode marked a turning point in the broader relationship,” the report said.

White House after that phone call, according to the officials in New Delhi.

“Once Trump began publicly attacking India, they added, it was clear the episode marked a turning point in the broader relationship,” the report said.

‘Pay the price’

For New Delhi, one of the main sticking points in trade negotiations has been Washington’s de-mand to access India’s vast agricultural and dairy market.

India has remained steadfast about its labour-intensive agricultural sector, unwilling to risk angering farmers, a powerful voting bloc.

“We will not compromise with the interests of our farmers, our dairy sector, our fishermen,” Modi said during a speech at a conference in New Delhi, his remarks widely seen as his first public response to the tariffs.

“I know I will have to pay a personal price for this, but I am ready for it,” he added, without giving further details.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2025