Indian netizens were left fuming when United States (US) President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House’s Oval Office early Friday.
The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, was closed for the press.
A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) after the meeting said that the US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also present, adding that the meeting was held in a pleasant atmosphere.
Speaking during the meeting, the premier praised the US leader’s bold, courageous, and decisive actions had helped facilitate the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, thereby averting what he called a potential “major catastrophe” in South Asia.
Minutes before the meeting, the US president spoke to the media, calling PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir “great” people. “We’ve got the prime minister of Pakistan coming and the field marshal … [he’s] a great, great guy and so is the prime minister, both,” he said.
The conflict between the two countries erupted following the April 22 Pahalgam incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 people. New Delhi accused Islamabad of orchestrating the attack, which the Islamabad vehemently rejected.
On the night of May 6-7, India launched strikes in Pakistan’s cities, including Bahawalpur and Muridke. In response, Pakistan shot down India’s six fighter jets, including three 4.5 French-made Rafales. The 88-hour-long conflict ended after the US intervened and announced a ceasefire between Pakistan and India on May 10.
The formal bilateral interaction between both countries’ leaders, which came after six years, has ruffled many Indian feathers.
“‘HAND-OUT’ CULTURE!” said Indian anchor Rahul Shivshankar on X (formerly Twitter), while sharing a picture featuring President Trump cordially shaking hands with the Pakistani premier, with COAS Field Marshal General Munir standing beside the US president, smiling.
Editor of Asian News Network (ANI) Smita Prakash, a known anti-Pakistan troll, captioned a photo “51st state”. A social media user in the comments section couldn’t control his frustration, writing, “Unofficial 51st state. Pakistan would be delighted if they were made one officially”.
Many Indians, smarting from America’s sudden tough policies and penalties on India, wrote: “Snakes in [the] USA’s front yard. Not the first time leaders of a terrorist state have got audience with [the] US President.” Another one wrote that the meeting was “pathetic”.
A netizen described the interaction of both countries’ leaders a “nightmare”. “American leader injecting himself with the worlds deadliest virus… beyond redemption…We are, remember this, paying the Price for adhering to their request or command of abruptly shelving op sindoor back in May 2025! Everything is the root cause of that event irrespective of what any of the so-called experts would like you to believe !!! Once you bend, D [The] humiliation never ends!!!!!(sic).” One troll users put his anger in words: “This is the MAGA [Make America Great Again] in making during Trump’s tenure. Good luck America.”
Meanwhile, one user lamented that “President Trump was dreaming [of having] Modi on one side of this picture. But despite doing all the tactics that the dream picture could not come to reality.”
A practical netizen praised Pakistan’s foreign policy, describing it as “professionally a good job.” “It’s ridiculous, of course, but I cannot stop and wonder about the brilliance of the mandarins in the Foreign Ministry in Pakistan who have done an exceedingly good job for their country. They shouldn’t succeed but, professionally, it’s a good job,” he stated.
