ISLAMABAD (Web-Desk); Indian opposition leaders launched scathing criticism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday over what they described as a mishandling of the four-day conflict with Pakistan earlier this year, sparked by the Pahalgam attack.
The conflict began in early May after India carried out airstrikes on Pakistan, blaming Islamabad for orchestrating the Pahalgam assault, allegations Pakistan firmly denied. In response, the Pakistan Air Force reportedly shot down six Indian jets.
The exchange escalated into tit-for-tat attacks on each other’s airbases, ending only after U.S. intervention on May 10 led to a ceasefire agreement.
During the Indian parliament’s monsoon session, Congress leader and Opposition head Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of lacking political courage.
“Modi ji didn’t have the will to fight Pakistan and sent our armed forces into battle with their hands tied,” he said. Gandhi also challenged Modi to publicly deny former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he brokered the ceasefire. “If you have even half the courage of Indira Gandhi, then say in parliament that Trump is lying,” he demanded.
Gandhi criticized the Defence Minister’s remarks, which suggested India had informed Pakistan during the conflict that it was targeting only non-military sites and did not seek escalation. “At 1:35 am, we told them everything,” he said, calling the move a signal of weakness.
He also cited Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan’s admission that Indian jets were shot down, adding, “Chauhan should have the courage to say his hands were tied by his own government.”
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi echoed Gandhi’s concerns, stating, “You think 35 Rafales are enough? We don’t. Even losing one is a major loss.” He accused the media of exaggerating India’s military success, saying, “You made it seem like we’d be in Karachi the next day — but then you backed down.”
Priyanka Gandhi also held the government accountable, criticizing intelligence failures and demanding to know why no resignations were tendered, particularly from the Home Minister. “Why did PM Modi agree to stop the war?” she asked.
Opposition leader in the upper house, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised suspicion over Modi cancelling his schedule days before the Pahalgam attack. “Was there prior knowledge? And if Trump is your friend, why don’t you correct his claim that five Indian jets were downed?” he added.
Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament that three Pakistani nationals allegedly involved in the Pahalgam attack were killed in a gunfight in a Kashmir forest. He said their identities were confirmed through Pakistani voter ID cards and chocolates found on them. Forensic evidence also linked their rifles to the April assault.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh denied that India bowed to pressure to halt its operations, saying all strategic objectives had been achieved. “To suggest otherwise is baseless and entirely incorrect,” he told lawmakers.
Pakistan’s foreign office has yet to issue a formal response to Amit Shah’s latest claims. However, Pakistani sources alleged that India had resumed “fake encounters,” and warned that detained Pakistanis might be used in staged operations under the guise of counterterrorism.
