Narendra Modi’s Post-War Jingoism
By Asif Haroon Raja
Since the 9/11 attacks, India has adeptly capitalized on the global war on terror and the new international security architecture led by the United States. Exploiting international concern over terrorism, India aggressively pushed a narrative equating Kashmiri freedom fighters with terrorists, and accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism not only in Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK) but also in Afghanistan and mainland India. A consistent stream of disinformation and staged false flag operations were deployed to reinforce this narrative globally, portraying India as a victim and Pakistan as a perpetrator.
India’s systematic campaign of terrorism and covert aggression against Pakistan has spanned over two decades. Through targeted assassinations, sectarian manipulation, and support to proxy terror groups, India has sought to destabilize Pakistan internally.
Even after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent Taliban takeover in August 2021, India re-established its presence there and resumed its subversive activities — particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan. These operations have severely impacted Pakistan’s internal security, economy, and social fabric.
India’s Transnational Assassination Campaign
India’s covert activities have now extended well beyond South Asia. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has been implicated in assassination plots targeting Sikh activists in Canada, the UK, the United States and Pakistan — blatant violations of international norms and state sovereignty. While these actions have drawn condemnation, concrete punitive measures from the West remain absent.
The Double Standards of Indian Diplomacy
India’s foreign policy remains riddled with contradictions. Despite being a major state sponsor of terrorism in South Asia, India continues to portray itself as a victim. Its diplomatic and media machinery is engaged in a global disinformation campaign that masks its own aggressive behaviour while vilifying Pakistan.
India’s media-driven narrative seeks to deflect attention from its actions and instead demonize Pakistan, despite mounting evidence of its own involvement in cross-border terrorism.
Strategic Miscalculations and the Pahalgam Incident
Pakistan’s economic turmoil, polarised politics, deeply divided society, frayed civil-military relationship and apparently weakened public trust in the army gave an idea to the Indian leadership that the overall situation was ripe to strike enervated Pakistan and to enable India to finally establish its hegemonic dominance in South Asia and to become a global power.
Butcher of Muslims of Gujarat and of Muslim Kashmiris, Modi basking in the glory of India becoming the fourth largest economy and the fourth largest military power of the world, enjoying diplomatic clout, he wanted to deliver a final coup de grace to Pakistan.
India overestimated its military strength and underestimated Pakistan’s capacity to fight back India’s military adventurism.
On April 22, 2025, RAW staged a false flag operation in Pahalgam, blaming Pakistan for the death of 26 tourists. This incident was used to whip up war hysteria, prompting full-scale mobilization of Indian ground, naval, and air forces.
India’s Blatant Attacks, Pakistan’s Swift Response
India’s subsequent misadventures on the night of May 6–7, May 8 and May 9/10 2025, backfired. May 6 to May 10 saw the epic battles rewriting modern art of warfare in a multi domain environment shattering Indian doctrine of Cold Start, air dominance, missile shields and hyped jingoistic economic system.
Pakistan responded decisively, inflicting a significant defeat that not only embarrassed India militarily but also shook its political leadership. In just four days, suddenly the whole environmental matrix changed. India found itself isolated with no buyers of its terrorism narrative.
Impact on India’s Credibility
India’s quest for dominance fed by self-hyped arrogance led them to a badly planned and poorly executed venture which has put India’s quest by at least a decade.
The most devastating effect was a demoralized paralysed air power trying to cover up the losses of Rafales. Indian performance not only tarnished its own image but badly dented French and Israel’s technological professions.
India’s internal political landscape has since become increasingly fragile. Modi faces growing criticism from hardline elements within his own base, with demands that he either retaliate against Pakistan or step down. Modi’s life is under threat and his political career is in doldrums. The extremist Hindus are seething with rage.
India has inadvertently opened the gates for renewed arms race in the subcontinent. The world is branding South Asia as a testing ground for the technological strength of China against Western technologies.
Arms Race would dent both the economies forcing both sides to drift further into supporting camps paying unwarranted prices.
India’s quest for upgradation of military capabilities would be cost heavy as suppliers would demand risk premiums.
Indian floated news of Russia offering SU 57 cannot be taken at face value, as I doubt Russia would put its SU 57 to test against Chinese J-35 with PAF. Similar would be the concerns of the US eager to sell F-35s to India.
Modi’s late invitation to G 7 meeting, rumblings within BRICs on the Indian role, unrest in Manipur and Nagaland, growing nexus between Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and intimacy of China, Pakistan, Bangladesh are adding to India’s anxieties.
Internally generated Pakistan phobia in India is gradually waning as realities dawn. Saner elements are questioning Modi’s venture in view of past experience and Bihar elections. The Congress Party in India has become assertive.
India’s unilateral suspension of Indus Water Treaty is viewed by Pakistan as an act of war, and it is fraught with significant strategic implications and dangerous consequences. The international community has viewed Modi’s acts as reckless and provocative.
Global Fallout and Diplomatic Shifts
The outcome of the conflict reverberated on the diplomatic front. Pakistan’s narrative—anchored in transparency and restraint—gained traction in the West, while India’s claims lacked credible evidence.
India’s defeat was particularly unsettling for its Western and Israeli allies, who had hoped it would serve as a counterbalance to China. The conflict also exposed vulnerabilities in Western-supplied military technology, while giving Chinese defence capabilities a credibility boost.
The USA is having second thoughts on its fervent desire to build India as a bulwark against China after India’s dismal war performance against a much smaller adversary. Trump’s emphasis is on making the US strong economically.
The Ukraine war which has now reached the brink of a nuclear exchange, has become a drain on the economy of the US and NATO. Even Europeans find themselves devoid of the US umbrella. It is their biggest worry.
Reckless Militarism and the Threat of Escalation
To restore lost prestige and placate hardliners, India has intensified military exercises near Pakistan’s southern borders.
There are indications that any future conflict might see deeper Israeli involvement.
However, India’s ability to rally regional support is weakening. Afghanistan’s current regime, influenced by Chinese diplomacy, has distanced itself from anti-Pakistan activity, while Iran has shown signs of warming relations with Islamabad.
Despite this regional recalibration, Modi’s BJP continues to pursue an aggressive agenda. Pakistan, for its part, maintains a posture of restraint while warning against India’s destabilizing actions.
Diplomatic Deadlock and Future Risks
India remains averse to genuine negotiations. Its strategy revolves around delay, deflection, and the continual vilification of Pakistan. Talks, if they occur, are likely to be stalled by India’s insistence on prioritizing terrorism over longstanding core disputes — chief among them, Kashmir.
With little intention of compromise, India may stage another false flag event to justify further hostilities. Calls for independent investigations, including into the Pahalgam incident, are routinely blocked.
Western Silence and Strategic Bias
While Pakistan’s measured response has been noted with a measure of satisfaction, and Pakistan’s diplomatic overtures are receiving receptive ears in the West, the West has refrained from publicly rebuking India’s actions — be it the unprovoked aggression, the suspension of water-sharing treaties, or the violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity. This silence stands in stark contrast to the international reaction had Pakistan been the aggressor.
Had India secured a decisive military victory, it’s unlikely any ceasefire would have occurred so swiftly. Instead, history suggests India would have pressed forward, demanding unconditional concessions — much like the 1971 conflict that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
The U.S. and its allies, disappointed by India’s underperformance, have responded not with censure but with accelerated military aid.
Meanwhile, water flows from India into Pakistan — particularly via the Chenab River—have been drastically reduced, posing a serious threat to Pakistan’s agricultural and ecological stability.
A Call for Global Accountability
The international community has been presented with overwhelming evidence of India’s involvement in cross-border terrorism. The time for selective outrage and double standards must end. India must be held accountable for its actions.
State-sponsored terrorism, no matter the perpetrator, must be condemned with equal force. The world cannot afford to enable a rising power to behave like a rogue state.
Pakistan remains committed to peace—but not at the cost of its sovereignty or the lives of its citizens. The scars of a 25-year-long campaign of subversion and aggression run deep, and the patience of its people is not infinite.
Conclusion
This is a critical moment for global leadership. Justice demands that India’s actions be confronted, not concealed. Peace in South Asia cannot be achieved through denial and complicity. Only through truth, accountability, and equity can lasting peace be secured.
India’s misadventure has tremendous negative ramifications which would retard India’s progress in economic, military and social domains for decades to come with dangers of escalation being the new normal.
The window to unintended nuclear mishandling and international intervention has narrowed both in time and space. South Asia is again sitting on a time bomb with a short fuse.
About the Author
Brig Gen (Retd) Asif Haroon Raja is a second-generation officer, a war veteran, he was part of 4 FF, which fought against the Indian 20 Mountain Division and held it at bay for 19 days in the epic battle of Hilli’ in erstwhile East Pakistan. He is the father of Maj Faheem Asif Shaheed; defence and political analyst, international columnist, author of five books, Chairman of Thinkers Forum Pakistan, and Patron-in-Chief of CDS Think Tank. He is a frequent participant in seminars and TV talk shows.
