New Delhi: India’s opposition parties have launched a blistering attack on the Modi government’s foreign policy, calling it a “major diplomatic defeat” for the nation following Pakistan’s recent appointments as President of the UN Security Council and Vice-Chair of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee. This development comes on the heels of the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s subsequent “Operation Sindoor,” further fueling the political firestorm.
Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera and Renika Chowdhury, have led the charge, accusing the Modi government of failing to globally isolate Pakistan and betraying both Indian soldiers and the nation. The criticism intensified after Pakistan assumed the rotational presidency of the UN Security Council for July 2025, and its earlier appointment as Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee for 2025-2026, and Chair of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee.
“This is a major diplomatic defeat for India, especially after the Pahalgam incident,” stated Pawan Khera, echoing the sentiments of many in the opposition. He further asserted that the Indian government’s inability to isolate Pakistan on the international stage was a betrayal of national interests.
Renika Chowdhury directly challenged the government’s competence, questioning the intelligence failures that led to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, primarily Hindu tourists. She highlighted the fact that the attackers remain at large despite Prime Minister Modi’s extensive foreign travel, implying a lack of tangible results from his diplomatic efforts. Chowdhury also lambasted the government’s “failed attempt” to portray Operation Sindoor as a global counter-terrorism initiative.
Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7-8, 2025, was described as a punitive and targeted campaign aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan. India emphasized its objective of acting against the perpetrators, supporters, financiers, and enablers of terrorist attacks, particularly in response to the Pahalgam massacre. However, the opposition argues that Pakistan’s rising international recognition, exemplified by its UN roles, exposes the Modi government’s flawed strategy and leaves India diplomatically sidelined
