On 7th May 2025, the Indian Air Force launched “Operation Sindoor”, a calibrated and resolute military offensive targeting terror infrastructure entrenched within Pakistani territory. This decisive act came in response to the heart-wrenching Pahalgam massacre on 22nd April, in which 26 Hindu men were brutally killed in front of their families, singled out by their religion. This was not merely an act of terror; it was a deliberate and barbaric display of religious persecution. In what Indian officials described as a "surgical missile campaign," the operation dismantled prominent terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Among those neutralized was Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior commander of JeM and the brother of Masood Azhar, a UN-designated terrorist. Abdul Rauf's involvement in the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 and his alleged link to the horrific beheading of Daniel Pearl, a Jewish-American journalist, was a grim reminder of the price humanity continues to pay for unchecked extremism. In the aftermath of this strike, Daniel Pearl’s father, along with members of the global Jewish lobby, publicly thanked India, stating that justice for Daniel had finally been served. For India, this was not just retribution rather it was a reaffirmation of its commitment to counterterrorism, rooted in sovereignty and justice.
However, rather than acknowledging India's legitimate and necessary response, Pakistan retaliated with its own operation, dubbed “Bunyan-un-Marsoos” which is an escalation that included cyber warfare and strikes on Indian military bases. In return, India broadened the scope of Operation Sindoor to encompass Pakistani military establishments, systematically targeting 11 airbases, including Nur Khan and Sargodha. While India’s indigenously developed air defense systems successfully intercepted thousands of drones, Pakistan’s Chinese-origin defenses like HQ-16 and FM-90 were unable to withstand India’s aerial superiority. As per Austrian air warfare historian Tom Cooper, India emerged as a “clear-cut victor,” possessing undeniable aerial dominance. John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, lauded India for showcasing offensive and defensive prowess without external support. A testimony to India’s matured strategic doctrine and technological capabilities.
Ultimately, it was Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who reached out to his Indian counterpart, initiating a ceasefire effective from 10th May at 5:00 PM. Interestingly, it was U.S. President Donald Trump who took to platforms like Truth Social and X to declare this ceasefire a "foreign policy achievement" under his watch, adding a commercial twist: “If you make a truce, we will do heavy trades together.” However, President Trump did not receive any praise for making peace, and he is sadly disappointed that no one is thanking him for stopping a nuclear war and saving millions of lives on both sides. The double standards of the Trump administration became even more evident in recent developments that further rattled global observers. Two controversial appointments of Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf to the White House Advisory Board of Lay Leaders raise red flags. Royer, a former jihadist, and Yusuf, often cited in international Islamic circles, reflect a strange tolerance for radicalism under the guise of religious representation. Adding to this paradox, Pakistan, a country whose military and intelligence wings are deeply embedded in terror networks was appointed Chair of the UNSC Taliban Sanctions Committee and Vice-Chair of the Counter Terrorism Committee. These appointments are not coincidental; they would be nearly impossible without the passive nod or active support of the U.S. administration. Meanwhile, financial backing flows unhindered. The Oak Government of Pakistan recently received aid from the Asian Development Bank, an institution where the U.S. and Japan wield considerable influence. Domestically, President Trump’s own authority has come under fire. A U.S. court recently struck down the justification for imposing tariffs under a declared “national emergency,” weakening the very legal basis of Trump’s protectionist economics. At the same time, one of his most trusted allies, Elon Musk, resigned from advisory roles in protest. Musk didn’t stop there. He publicly criticized the Trump-backed “Big Beautiful Bill,” warning Congress of its dangerous implications for America’s fiscal health. What followed was an undignified and public spat on X (formerly Twitter), resembling more of a street brawl between two former friends than a high-level policy debate.
These events show a Trump administration in free fall & unable to stabilize either its foreign or domestic policy. Amid all this chaos, America’s suspicion toward India’s rise as a ‘Silent Superpower ’becomes clearer. India’s rare synthesis of science and spirituality, visible in its educational and cultural ethos, threatens the rigid binaries with which the West views the world. The recent kinetic conflict proved beyond doubt that India is not only a soft power but a military one too. Yet the U.S. keeps lecturing India on “strategic neutrality,” revealing deep discomfort with India's refusal to play the pawn in Western-led conflicts. At this moment, it's worth recalling Lord Palmerston’s classic realist dictum: “Nations have no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.” The U.S. applies this daily. Sometimes with India, sometimes with Russia, and now, disturbingly, with rogue regimes. President Trump tried building rapport with President Putin, forgetting that Russia doesn’t offer diplomatic courtesy like India. He also lifted sanctions on Syria and legitimized Ahmad al-Sharaa, once labeled a terrorist by the U.S., but now a “tough and attractive” leader in Trump’s view. This betrayal of foundational anti-terror values exposes the harsh truth behind the Schwarzenberg Principle—named after Czech diplomat Prince Karl Schwarzenberg who once said, “The world will be astonished at the ingratitude of the Austrians.” America seems to have adopted this principle fully, viewing gratitude, alliances, and integrity as negotiable in the face of shifting interests. President Trump aspires to be seen as a master mediator. But my advice to him is simple: it is easier to mediate the world when your own geography is protected by the Atlantic to the east and the Pacific to the west.
Trump offers his advice to both India and Pakistan to have a dinner. Can President Trump host a dinner with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to discuss peace? Can he persuade Prime Minister Netanyahu to negotiate with Hamas for a ceasefire? Has he, after multiple failed attempts, been able to bring President Putin and President Zelensky to the table for dialogue? The answer to all of this is a resounding NO. Moreover, has the U.S. acknowledged its historical role in the creation and funding of terror groups like the Mujahideen during the Cold War, as exposed by Pakistan’s own Defense Minister on live television? These questions must be posed to the American administration, which appears to reward Pakistan with an IMF grant, just days before the ceasefire, despite its continued use of U.S.-supplied F-16s against India which is a clear violation of U.S. end-user policy that explicitly forbids the use of the jets for purposes other than counterterrorism inside Pakistani or Afghan territories. Will President Trump cancel this defense agreement? Or will strategic compulsions once again override morality?
This sequence of events has triggered disillusionment among India’s right-leaning population, many of whom had viewed President Trump as a firm opponent of radical Islamic terrorism. During election campaigns, Trump has often used such rhetoric to appeal to Jewish, Hindu, and Orthodox Christian voters, yet when it comes to action, he appears more interested in trade deals than truth. It seems clear now: President Trump views geopolitics primarily through the prism of commerce. Let us be blunt. You cannot afford to threaten trade ties with India, the world’s largest democracy and an emerging economic superpower in Asia. At the same time, America’s reliance on Pakistan as a pawn to manage its interests in Afghanistan and Iran undermines its own credibility as a champion of democracy and justice. The situation in Balochistan, where local populations are subjected to severe human rights violations by the Pakistani establishment, is met with complete silence from the U.S. administration. Even U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reached out to Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir instead of its elected representatives, has effectively endorsed the belief that Pakistan’s civilian government is merely a puppet.
As far as Kashmir is concerned, India’s position remains unequivocal. It is a bilateral matter. There is no room for third-party mediation. Trump’s attempt to insert himself into the discussion using historically inaccurate claims like “1000 years of Kashmir conflict” only exposes his lack of knowledge about South Asian geopolitics. One must ask: Is President Trump’s math faulty, or is he just chronically uninformed? More concerning is Trump's attempt to interfere in India’s economic progress. Advising Apple CEO Tim Cook against setting up manufacturing units in India raises serious questions. Would he dare suggest the same to Elon Musk about China? The truth is, that American corporates have long benefited from the cost-effective, skilled labor of Indian and Chinese workforces. To ignore this in favor of domestic protectionism is to risk skyrocketing inflation and industrial decline. Even if Apple were to return to the U.S., does America possess a labor market with tooling skills equivalent to that of Indian or Chinese engineers? The answer is, unfortunately, no. President Trump’s protectionist policies may score political points, but they sabotage long-term economic logic. Moreover, Trump’s admiration for authoritarian figures like President Putin and his passive-aggressive stance towards Ukraine’s President Zelensky, who remains staunchly pro-West, only adds to the confusion. One must remind him: that foreign policy is not a football game, and Twitter (or Truth Social) is no place for grandstanding on issues that require subtlety, patience, and gravitas.
The people of India, particularly those who champion national sovereignty and counterterrorism, are deeply disappointed by the immature behavior and romanticized view of Pakistan displayed by President Trump. And yet, amid this diplomatic chaos, the clear and assertive voices of leaders like Nikki Haley and Tulsi Gabbard bring a breath of fresh air. Their statements are firm, factual, and free of pandering, and resonate deeply with the Indian populace. The Trump administration, and indeed any future U.S. leadership, must choose its allies wisely. Will it align with a terror-sponsoring, unstable military regime, or will it deepen ties with a vibrant, democratic, and economically rising India?
India’s job is straightforward: it will continue to produce engineers, doctors, scientists, and professional accountants who will contribute to the growth of the global economy. What some others may choose to produce, unfortunately, are terrorists and instability, replaying 9/11-like horrors in new forms across the world. India cannot, and will not, place its national security in the hands of Western ambiguity. Our past has taught us that when it comes to self-preservation and dignity, we must walk alone if necessary.
Shashank Shukla is currently pursuing Chartered Accountancy and Company Secretary courses. A staunch advocate of free markets and capitalism, he actively promotes economic liberty. His interests include critical commentary on domestic affairs and global geopolitical developments.
