Shehbaz Takes the Stage as PM Modi Skips Trump’s “Sharm-naak” Gaza Spectacle at Sharm el-Sheikh

New Delhi: In a decision marked by prudence and political foresight, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to skip Donald Trump’s much-touted Gaza peace spectacle at Egypt’s grand Sharm el-Sheikh. The event, which many dubbed a “Sharm-naak circus,” saw Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif playing a star role in what resembled a chaotic reality show rather than a diplomatic summit.

The gathering, promoted as a historic signing of the Gaza peace accord, turned into a bizarre stage performance led by Trump himself—part showmanship, part political theatre. Observers likened it to a Comedy Central roast, except this time, the roasting was directed by the former U.S. President toward a lineup of world leaders seated across the ornate Egyptian conference hall.

Trump began the spectacle by calling out global leaders in his trademark flamboyant style. “France! Emmanuel, thank you so much. I picture Emmanuel standing at my back.” he exclaimed. Turning around, he theatrically asked, “Emmanuel, where are you?” only to be met with amused gestures from the audience pointing offstage. “I can’t believe you’re being low-key today!” Trump quipped, igniting laughter across the hall.

From there, Trump went on to name and poke fun at countries—some torn by decades of conflict, others champions of democracy and liberty—as if he were reading from a comedy script. The scene, according to many analysts, was a mix of dark humor and misplaced diplomacy, turning what should have been a serious event into a surreal international performance.

At the center of this spectacle was Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—the self-proclaimed “favorite guest” of Trump’s show. Trump offered Sharif five minutes on stage in what appeared to be a rehearsed act. Sharif, playing along, praised Trump as a “man of peace” and went as far as proposing that the former U.S. President be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his so-called role in Operation Sindoor, which allegedly averted nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni watched from behind the podium, clapping with a forced smile as cameras panned over the audience. Beside her, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer—fresh from his recent meeting with Modi in Mumbai—remained expressionless, refusing to indulge in Trump’s theatrics despite relentless camera flashes.

Trump, however, wasn’t done. Turning again toward Sharif, he declared with forced optimism, “India and Pakistan will live very nicely together.” He then asked Sharif, “He’s going to help make it happen, right?” The visibly uncomfortable Sharif managed only a nervous smile, mumbling incoherently as the hall filled with awkward laughter. Behind the façade, Pakistan burned—from the Afghan border to the streets of Lahore—under mounting domestic turmoil.

Sharif’s public affection for Washington and his endorsement of Trump’s Gaza deal triggered outrage across Pakistan, where critics accused him of betraying national interests. The irony was glaring: even as Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi roamed Delhi’s corridors of power, Islamabad blamed its internal chaos on “Indian proxies.”

For India, the scene at Sharm el-Sheikh would have been politically disastrous. The thought of PM Modi sharing the dais with Sharif while Trump played the “global mediator” is almost unimaginable. Such a spectacle would have provided endless ammunition to opposition parties back home and potentially undermined India’s diplomatic standing.

Sources close to diplomatic circles confirm that Modi’s decision to stay away from Trump’s so-called “peace performance” was deliberate. Following the G7 Summit snub in Canada earlier this year—where Trump had planned to host Modi alongside Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir—the Prime Minister reportedly saw through the optics and opted to protect India’s strategic dignity once again.

Furthermore, India’s continued diplomatic freeze with Pakistan, visible in the boycott of the Asia Cup and avoidance of bilateral engagement, underscores Modi’s firm approach to setting boundaries. As one senior diplomat put it, “The leader sets the tone—and India’s tone is clear.”

Still, some political voices back home, notably Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, questioned whether India lost an opportunity to influence a significant international dialogue by abstaining from Trump’s stage-managed summit. “Could India have leveraged this event for greater global leadership?” Tharoor asked.

However, as several political observers pointed out, had Modi agreed to appear beside Shehbaz Sharif under Trump’s self-appointed peacemaker act, the very same critics would have labeled the scene as “Sharm-naak”—a moment of national embarrassment rather than diplomatic triumph.

— Reported by Ashish, Senior Political Editor, The Fox Daily News. Analysis based on verified diplomatic sources, field expertise, and years of foreign policy reporting.