DNA
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is facing a wave of criticism following External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s claim that India informed Pakistan in advance of its May 6 operation targeting alleged terrorist infrastructure.
The revelation has sparked outrage from opposition leaders and analysts, who question the strategic rationale behind alerting the target nation.
The controversy centres on the potential compromise of the operation, dubbed “Operation Sindoor,” by providing Pakistan with crucial forewarning.
Critics argue this advance notice could have allowed Pakistan to mobilise its air defence systems and safeguard high-value targets, thereby, diminishing the operation’s effectiveness.
Social media platforms have become a hotbed of dissent, with numerous users accusing the government of prioritising public perception over operational success.
The Congress party has emerged as a vocal critic, with Congress Kerala stating on X that Jaishankar’s disclosure renders him “not worthy of staying as external affairs minister.”
Jaishankar, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, defended the government’s decision, stating that India had explicitly informed Pakistan the strikes were “targeted solely at terrorist infrastructure, not military installations.”
He further asserted: “We gave Pakistan the option to remain a silent bystander and not intervene, but they chose to ignore this prudent advice.”
Pakistan’s armed forces successfully defended their airspace during Operation Sindoor and shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three advanced Rafale aircraft.
As Pakistan demonstrated the effectiveness of its upgraded aerial defence capabilities, India chose silence, not sharing the details about losses incurred.
Sentiments against the ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), are already high. Congress has called out the failure of the Modi regime, repeatedly pointing out its failures.
Several analysts have echoed Congress’s claims.
In his analysis published on Friday, Indian journalist and defence analyst Pravin Sawhney said what Modi and Jaishankar demonstrated before and during Operation Sindoor reflects a form of foreign policy driven by arrogance — the kind that emerges when critical thinking is absent.
This, he said, demands a serious reassessment of India’s foreign policy direction.
Per Sawhney, the only two countries that came out in India’s support were Israel and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan — a setup that has not yet been recognised by the world, including India.
On Thursday, Jaishankar spoke with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, expressing appreciation for his condemnation of the Pahalgam attack.
In his post on X, Jaishankar welcomed Muttaqi’s rejection of attempts to create distrust between the nations through false reports. He emphasised India’s continued support for Afghanistan’s development and discussed future cooperation.
