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Rethinking India’s Foreign Policy Messaging
Blame not the messenger in India’s diplomacy
Context: Following Operation Sindoor, India’s diplomats faced rare scrutiny for failing to effectively shape global responses, despite extensive high-level outreach and sustained diplomatic efforts.
Operation Sindoor and the Diplomatic Fallout
- India’s response to the Pahalgam attack drew global condemnation of the terror strike but lacked strong support for its military retaliation — a sharp contrast to past incidents.
- After the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama strike, India received unequivocal regional and global support, even isolating Pakistan diplomatically.
- In 2008, post-Mumbai attacks, the UN Security Council sanctioned Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders, and Pakistan was added to the FATF grey list.
- This time while India has struggled to gather vocal support for Operation Sindoor, Pakistan received public backing from China, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Perception Wins for Pakistan?
Despite its record of supporting terrorism, Pakistan has scored symbolic diplomatic victories:
- In April, it succeeded in removing references to The Resistance Front (TRF) — which claimed the Pahalgam attack — from a UNSC resolution.
- It now chairs the Taliban Sanctions Committee, is vice-chair of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee, and has secured IMF and ADB loans — all despite India’s opposition.
- The White House hosted Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, shortly after his controversial “jugular vein” comment — widely interpreted in India as a greenlight for the Pahalgam attack.
- As UNSC President for July 2025, Pakistan is expected to push the Kashmir issue, challenging India’s diplomatic defences yet again.
Trump Factor: Undermining India’s Narrative
- Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated comments on mediating between India and Pakistan have further complicated matters.
- This public narrative from Washington underscores a wider diplomatic gap between India and its key partners, particularly in how counterterrorism and conflict resolution are framed.
A Flurry of Diplomacy, But Little Shift in Global Perception
- India launched an expansive diplomatic campaign post-Operation Sindoor — dispatching MPs and former diplomats to 32 countries, with the U.S. receiving the most attention (6 days).
- Prime Minister Modi also ramped up bilateral engagement at the G7 and BRICS summits, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar continues extensive global outreach.
- However, the fact that such a campaign was necessary, unlike after India’s 2016 and 2019 strikes, suggests internal acknowledgment of a diplomatic shortfall. Yet, India’s diplomats can only amplify the message crafted at home — not redefine it.
Decoding “New Normal”: A Diplomatic Dilemma
India’s post-Sindoor message hinges on a three-pronged “New Normal” announced by PM Modi:
- “Any act of terror is an act of war” — blurring lines and lowering the threshold for future conflict.
- “India will not bow to nuclear blackmail” — an explicit articulation of a long-held posture, now perceived as destabilising.
- “No distinction between state and non-state actors” — signalling a willingness to hold Pakistan directly accountable, raising escalation risks.
- While allies haven’t questioned India’s evidence against Pakistan, they are increasingly uneasy about escalatory rhetoric and lack of accountability in tracing the attackers.
Global Context: Why India’s Tough Talk Isn’t Landing
Several recent geopolitical developments have reshaped how India’s actions are viewed:
- Rising discomfort with territorial aggression globally makes foreign governments wary of endorsing military solutions.
- India’s neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing oil imports from Russia have dented support in Europe.
- New Delhi’s silence on Israel’s actions in Gaza has alienated partners in the Global South.
- Against this backdrop, Modi’s claim that terrorism from Pakistan is a “war” rather than a proxy war challenges the very norms India once championed — “This is not an era of war” and “dialogue and diplomacy”.
Domestic Image, Global Repercussions
- Since 2019, India’s global democratic image has come under increasing scrutiny. Concerns abroad include: Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Abrogation of Article 370, Internet shutdowns, and Allegations of transnational assassinations linked to Indian agents in the U.S. and Canada.
- These issues frequently surface in India’s diplomatic conversations, even when the agenda is terrorism. They make it harder for Indian diplomats to defend India’s moral authority in contrast to Pakistan.
