Senior Indian National Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has strongly criticised the Modi-led government over what he described as a diplomatic failure in the aftermath of India’s recent military engagement with Pakistan.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi questioned the Ministry of External Affairs and its handling of the situation. “Will JJ explain: Why has India been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn’t a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to ‘mediate’ between India & Pakistan? India’s foreign policy has collapsed,” he wrote, referring to External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Gandhi’s remarks came after India reportedly launched missile strikes on May 7 targeting civilian areas in Pakistan, resulting in over 30 civilian casualties. The strikes followed an April 22 militant attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 civilians dead. India had immediately blamed Pakistan for the attack, though no public evidence was presented.
In response to the strikes, Pakistan claimed it shot down six Indian aircraft, including Rafale fighter jets, and launched a retaliatory operation named Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting Indian military installations with PAF and Fatah ballistic missiles. India later agreed to a ceasefire, though confusion and mixed reporting dominated local media narratives.
Rahul Gandhi accused the government of isolating India on the global stage during the conflict. “India stood alone. Not a single country supported us. This isn’t just a diplomatic failure — it’s a complete collapse of foreign policy,” he stated.
He also questioned the silence of the External Affairs Minister following the military exchange. “EAM Jaishankar’s silence isn’t just telling – it’s damning. So I’ll ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew? This wasn’t a lapse. It was a crime. And the nation deserves the truth,” he wrote.
The Congress party has demanded clarity from the government on India’s strategic and diplomatic positioning during the conflict and is calling for greater transparency on military losses and international mediation efforts, including reports of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate between India and Pakistan.
