India’s recent military adventurism against Pakistan continues to face growing criticism at home, with renowned Indian defence analyst Praveen Sawhney once again calling the aggression “miscalculated and damaging” to India’s global reputation.
Speaking during a televised discussion hosted by senior journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Sawhney candidly acknowledged that India gained “nothing” from its offensive actions against Pakistan. “We attacked Pakistan but achieved nothing,” he said. “Instead, it harmed our international credibility.”
Referring to past incidents like the Balakot air strikes, Sawhney said, “Even then, our use of the air force was questionable. The leadership wasn’t fully aware of what was being done, and there was no clear military objective.” He stressed that military targets must be specific and justified, not vague entities such as ‘terror camps.’
He further noted that Pakistan’s preparedness this time was visible: “They were fully ready for any air assault. If you’re going to strike, the targets must be military in nature. Terrorist camps do not qualify as legitimate military targets.”
Sawhney also referenced Pakistan Air Marshal Aurangzeb’s claim that five Indian fighter jets were shot down on May 7, a claim that remains largely uncontested by Indian authorities. “When our own Air Marshal was asked about the losses, he responded casually, saying, ‘losses happen in war,’” said Sawhney, hinting at a lack of accountability and transparency.
Highlighting diplomatic fallout, he revealed that following Pakistan’s strong military response, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval allegedly reached out to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as senior diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Japan, and even China’s Foreign Minister. “If India wasn’t ready for a war, it should never have entered one,” Sawhney stated bluntly.
Defence analysts say Sawhney’s comments reflect a growing consensus among Indian experts that the country’s military strategy has been flawed and reactionary. “His remarks make it clear that India itself had to rush to the U.S. to seek de-escalation,” said one observer, adding that New Delhi’s aggressive posture has only exposed its strategic weaknesses.
