Former Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has raised questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s decision to skip the Gaza peace summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, which was attended by global leaders including US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres.
The summit, co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, aimed to discuss lasting peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East. India, however, was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, a move that Tharoor described as &ldquo;a missed opportunity for India&rdquo; in high-level diplomacy. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor asked whether the decision reflected &ldquo;strategic restraint or a missed opportunity,&rdquo; pointing out that India&rsquo;s representation was at a lower level compared to other nations. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
India&rsquo;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? This is no reflection on Kirti Vardhan Singh, whose competence is not in&hellip;
&mdash; Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1977699009704894972?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote>

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While Modi has previously expressed support for Trump&rsquo;s Gaza peace plan, the absence of the Prime Minister at the summit has sparked discussions about India&rsquo;s foreign policy approach and strategic positioning in the Middle East. Analysts note that India&rsquo;s delegation, though competent, lacked the prominence of other world leaders, potentially limiting its influence on key discussions and decision-making at the summit.
The debate over Modi&rsquo;s decision comes amid heightened global attention on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages, and broader Middle East stability. India&rsquo;s approach, including the decision to send a junior minister rather than the Prime Minister, has drawn both criticism and analysis from political commentators and opposition leaders.
As the situation in Gaza and the Middle East continues to unfold, India&rsquo;s absence at such high-profile diplomatic forums raises questions about its future role and influence in global peace initiatives.

PM Modi Skips Gaza Summit, Tharoor Questions Move

India represented by MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh as Modi misses high-level Gaza peace talks

PM Modi Skips Gaza Summit, Tharoor Questions Move

India represented by MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh as Modi misses high-level Gaza peace talks

October 14, 2025 | 24:54 IST