Modi Skips Kuala Lumpur for ASEAN Summit, Jaishankar Represents India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not travel to Kuala Lumpur for next week’s ASEAN and East Asia summits, officials said, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set to represent India and Modi likely to participate virtually at least in the ASEAN‑India session. The meetings are scheduled at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from October 26 to 28, with the ASEAN‑India summit on October 27 attended by leaders and dialogue partners including the United States, whose president is expected to be in Malaysia during the gathering.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he spoke with Modi by phone and was told the Indian leader would join the summit virtually. Anwar posted that he respected Modi’s decision and extended Deepavali greetings to him and the people of India. Government and other officials close to scheduling decisions said domestic commitments, including state assembly elections in Bihar and religious observances, were among the factors influencing Modi’s decision not to travel. Those officials also noted that the absence of a concrete outcome from recent India‑United States trade discussions reduced the urgency for an in‑person summit visit.