IN the post-May 2025 landscape, India’s geopolitical stance finds itself marred by a troubling conflict with Pakistan that has unfolded dramatically.
This situation is rooted in a long-standing cycle of mutual blame and aggression, with Kashmir at the heart of their discord.
The incident that escalated tensions was the Pahalgam attack that set a belligerent tone in the region.
Indian authorities quickly blamed Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack, leading to a series of military aggression, escalated into a missile campaign on the night of May 6-7.
The fallout was devastating with civilian casualties exceeding thirty, exacerbating the already fraught relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
The blame game has often served as a convenient tool for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, allowing the government to consolidate power by stoking nationalist sentiments.
By portraying Pakistan as the perennial adversary responsible for all mishaps in Kashmir, the Administration sought not only to gain political currency but also to divert attention from pressing domestic issues.
The attempt to foster an anti-Muslim sentiment intertwined with anti-Pakistan rhetoric has deliberately fuelled a climate of animosity among its supporters.
However, the backlash from this approach has often proven to be short-lived and counterproductive.
Following the missile strikes, Pakistan’s response was swift and calculated.
The perceived misadventure on India’s part soon turned into a nightmare as the retaliation was meticulously planned.
Pakistan not only launched counterstrikes but did so with precision that resulted in considerable damage to Indian military assets.
Key locations across India, including Uri, Drangyari, Udhampur, Nagrota, Pathankot and Bhuj, became sites of severe military loss for India.
The destruction was extensive: India’s military bases were hit and its newly-acquired S-400 missile systems, worth an estimated 1.5 billion dollars, were badly compromised.
Furthermore, the Indian Air Force faced catastrophic losses, with five of its advanced Rafael jets shot down in a matter of days, not to mention the decimation of over seventy Indian drones.
The economic repercussions of this brief yet intense conflict were staggering.
India suffered a loss estimated at 83 billion dollars within just two to three days of the hostilities.
Such a financial blow highlighted not only the immediate impact of the military engagement but also raised questions about India’s military preparedness and strategic capabilities.
While India had invested heavily in fortifying its military infrastructure with the aspirations of checking China’s influence in the region, the recent confrontations exposed a worrying reality.
The operational deficiencies and intelligence gaps that arose amid intense combat revealed an alarming inconsistency between military investment and on-the-ground effectiveness.
India’s traditional posture of assertiveness as a counterbalancing force in South Asia now faced scrutiny.
The rapid unravelling of its military operations against an equally determined adversary indicated a significant gap in strategic clarity.
It illustrated a critical need for not just modernization in terms of defence procurement but also a comprehensive evaluation of operational readiness and effectiveness.
While proclamations of indigenization in defence production have surfaced in recent years, the tragic outcomes of the latest conflict underscored the lack of alignment between India’s ambitious geopolitical aspirations and the practical realities of its military capabilities.
As the dust began to settle from the chaos, India found itself increasingly isolated and in urgent need of diplomatic intervention.
The scale of embarrassment suffered on the battlefield prompted Indian leaders to reach out to regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States, to seek a ceasefire arrangement.
Such diplomatic manoeuvres were seen as attempts to salvage national pride amid embarrassing military setbacks.
The necessity of a face-saver became paramount as India navigated the fallout from the disastrous military engagements.
Throughout this tumultuous experience, another critical issue surfaced: misinformation and disinformation became significant liabilities for India.
The rapidly evolving narrative around the conflict was heavily influenced by sensationalist reporting in mainstream media and rampant speculation on social media platforms.
Various outlets, eager to shape public perception and bolster nationalist fervour, indulged in the manipulation of facts which ultimately eroded trust and credibility.
Instead of fostering an informed discourse, this misinformation ecosystem became a breeding ground for confusion, further complicating an already fraught situation for India.
In the aftermath of the military confrontation between India and Pakistan in between 6 to 10 May 2025, India faced a significant diplomatic challenge that starkly contrasted with its previous standing in South Asia.
Historically, India has positioned itself as a regional power, frequently labelling Pakistan as a “terror-sponsoring” state suffering from economic instability.
However, the recent conflict highlighted India’s increasing diplomatic isolation, with key international players reluctant to align with its narrative against Pakistan.
A pivotal moment occurred when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a loan for Pakistan during the conflict, which served as a major setback for India’s claims about its neighbour’s economic vulnerability.
This endorsement from the IMF not only contradicted India’s assertions but also reflected a growing confidence in Pakistan’s economic strategies and priorities on the global stage.
Rather than being perceived as a pariah, Pakistan managed to showcase resilience and attract international support, thus undermining India’s attempts to isolate it diplomatically.
The brief war resulted in significant military, diplomatic and economic ramifications for India, shattering its aspirations of becoming the dominant regional superpower.
The loss of military assets and a staggering economic impact highlighted the inefficacy of India’s strategic approach.
While India seemed caught in a whirlwind of reactive measures and unclear objectives, Pakistan demonstrated a coherent strategy, effectively maintaining its deterrence and reinforcing the balance of power in the region.
The conflict not only exposed India’s military shortcomings but also its failure to diplomatically navigate the complexities of regional politics.
As Pakistan solidified its position and garnered international support, India was left contemplating the ramifications of its isolation and deep loopholes were noticed in its both military and diplomatic strategy.
—The writer is Chairman, Tehrik Jawanan Pakistan. (abdullahhamidgul1@gmail.com)
