Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to skip the Gaza peace summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh and send a union minister of state, Kirti Vardhan Singh in his place.
He posted on X, “India’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 question; but given the galaxy of grandees present, India’s choice could be seen as signalling a preference for strategic distance, which our statements don’t convey. And for reasons of protocol access alone, India’s voice at the Summit on issues of reconstruction and regional stability may carry less weight than it could have. In a region reshaping itself, our relative absence is puzzling.”
India’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?
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 13, 2025
This is no reflection on Kirti Vardhan Singh, whose competence is not in…
PM Modi welcomed the release of all hostages
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the release of “all hostages by Hamas after over two years of captivity”, saying it is a tribute to the courage of families, the peace efforts of US President Donald Trump and the resolve of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
India has backed President Trump’s efforts to bring peace in the Middle East.
“We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu. We support President Trump’s sincere efforts to bring peace to the region,” PM Modi said a post on X.
We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu. We support President Trump’s sincere…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 13, 2025
PM Modi had earlier said that India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards durable and just peace.
“We welcome President Trump’s leadership as peace efforts in Gaza make decisive progress. Indications of the release of hostages mark a significant step forward. India will continue to strongly support all efforts towards a durable and just peace,” he said in a post on October 4.
Hamas released 20 living hostages
All 20 living hostages were released by Hamas earlier in the day as part of the Gaza peace plan. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that the remaining 13 hostages were freed by Hamas and were on their way back to Israel after being handed over to the Red Cross in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis.
