Modi has become 'global joke', says Khjawaja Asif

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is politically isolated both domestically and internationally.

Addressing reporters in Islamabad, Asif stated that Modi’s recent conduct and rhetoric reflect an attempt to regain lost political ground following internal and external criticism.

“He tries to shake hands, but people avoid him,” Asif said, claiming that Modi is “no longer taken seriously on the global stage.”

The remarks came a day after Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi challenged Modi in the Indian Parliament, asking him to publicly reject US President Donald Trump’s claim that five Indian fighter jets were downed during clashes with Pakistan.

“If Modi has the courage, let him say in this House that Trump lied. Say that there was no ceasefire and no Indian jets were downed,” Gandhi had said during a parliamentary session.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated in May during a four-day conflict that reportedly claimed over 70 lives on both sides. U.S. President Trump later stated that he helped negotiate a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed countries.

Prime Minister Modi, addressing India’s parliament during a debate on “Operation Sindoor” — the codename for the military campaign against Pakistan — denied any external pressure. “No world leader asked us to stop the operation,” he said, without naming Trump.

In contrast, Trump has reiterated claims of his involvement in defusing the conflict. “If I weren’t around, you’d have, right now, six major wars going on. India would be fighting with Pakistan,” Trump said earlier this week during a visit to Scotland.