In a searing editorial that has sent shockwaves through India’s strategic circles, the New Indian Express has delivered a damning indictment of the Modi government’s diplomatic and military performance during the ill-fated Operation Sandhoor, revealing how New Delhi faced unprecedented international isolation and strategic miscalculations at every level.
According to the article, not a single neighboring country stood by India during the operation—an alarming diplomatic failure that underscores the erosion of regional alliances under the current leadership. Even traditional partners such as Russia and key nations of the Global South adopted a posture of strict neutrality, while India’s strained ties with the European Union further highlighted the government’s deteriorating international standing.
The New Indian Express points to Russia’s conspicuous aloofness as a direct exposure of the vulnerabilities in India’s foreign policy architecture. In a particularly striking revelation, the article notes that U.S. mediation led by President Donald Trump left Indian leadership in a state of visible dismay, with Trump reportedly warning that continued hostilities would result in the suspension of trade—a move that shook the very foundation of India’s foreign policy narrative.
The article asserts that Trump labelled India’s offensive as “aggression,” casting global doubts on the legality of Operation Sandhoor and opening a floodgate of international criticism. It further claims that India offered sweeping, unilateral concessions to the United States in a desperate attempt to secure diplomatic approval, going so far as to orchestrate an elaborate campaign to ensure a face-to-face meeting between Prime Minister Modi and the U.S. President at the White House.
Following the meeting, the article says, India capitulated to U.S. pressure by repatriating undocumented migrants via military aircraft in a manner described as “humiliating.” In a further blow to national dignity, India reportedly slashed trade tariffs under American pressure, adversely affecting domestic agriculture and drawing public ire.
In a rare public disclosure, the New Indian Express states that India’s regulatory framework is now being restructured to favor American technology giants. Even more alarming is New Delhi’s reported promise to amend legislation to accommodate U.S. nuclear reactor firms—an act that the article warns could pose serious threats to national security.
In a bold assessment, the article describes India’s ruling class as a “comprador elite”—a group fully subservient to American interests at the cost of national sovereignty, economic independence, and public trust. This elite, it says, has effectively mortgaged India’s strategic autonomy, sparking widespread criticism and unrest across the political spectrum.
The article also details how international human rights organizations condemned India’s actions during the operation, while Pakistan successfully demonstrated the credibility of its nuclear deterrent. The New Indian Express warns that repeated military misadventures like Operation Sandhoor will only result in rapid defeats—such as the operation’s failure within 100 hours—eroding public confidence and weakening India’s deterrence.
Highlighting Pakistan’s formidable military capabilities, the article dismisses India’s limited strikes—such as disabling runways or jamming radars—as ineffective, stating that such tactics cannot coerce or intimidate Islamabad. It calls on India to abandon its cyclical obsession with new military doctrines and instead seek meaningful diplomatic resolution through neutral mediators like Trump.
In conclusion, the New Indian Express urges a radical rethink within India’s corridors of power, warning that unless the leadership confronts its strategic missteps and acknowledges Pakistan’s potent retaliatory capacity, India’s national security, diplomatic stature, and internal cohesion will continue to unravel.
