Rahul Gandhi Critiques India's Foreign Policy Amidst Rising Tensions with Pakistan
Gandhi Questions India's Global Position
On Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed concerns over the state of India's foreign policy, declaring it has 'collapsed' and urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to clarify the nation's international standing following Operation Sindoor.
In a post on social media, Gandhi shared a video of Jaishankar responding to inquiries from Dutch broadcaster NOS regarding the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan.
Gandhi posed critical questions to Jaishankar, asking, 'Why has India been linked with Pakistan?' and 'Why did no country support us in condemning Pakistan?' He also questioned who prompted former US President Donald Trump to 'mediate' between the two nations.
The conflict between India and Pakistan intensified on May 7, when the Indian military executed strikes, known as Operation Sindoor, targeting what it identified as terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
This military action was a direct response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals on April 22.
In retaliation, the Pakistan Army engaged in shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the deaths of at least 22 Indian civilians and seven military personnel.
On May 10, both nations reached an 'understanding' to cease hostilities after four days of conflict.
India's announcement to halt military operations came shortly after Trump claimed on social media that both countries had agreed to a ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated that India and Pakistan had consented to 'initiate discussions on a wide range of issues' at a neutral location.
Trump has repeatedly asserted that the US played a mediating role in these discussions.
However, India has maintained that the decision to cease fire was made independently, without any US involvement.
Will JJ explain:
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 23, 2025
• 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. https://t.co/m8q2lAFRm4
Earlier on Thursday, Gandhi had also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising India's dignity.
He criticized Modi on X, stating, 'Stop delivering empty speeches. Just tell me: Why did you trust Pakistan's claims on terrorism? Why did you sacrifice India's interests by yielding to Trump? Why does your anger only surface in front of cameras?'
This response came after Modi's speech in Bikaner, Rajasthan, where he remarked that after Operation Sindoor, adversaries understood the consequences when vermilion transformed into gunpowder.
BJP Responds to Gandhi's Remarks
On Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned Gandhi's statements.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia stated during a press conference that Gandhi was making 'careless statements' while Operation Sindoor was ongoing.
Bhatia accused Gandhi of appearing to engage in discussions with Pakistan aimed at undermining India and demoralizing its forces.
He suggested that Gandhi could raise his concerns during an all-party meeting or a briefing from the external affairs ministry.
However, Bhatia asserted that Gandhi's actions were not innocent, emphasizing that every statement made regarding national matters carries significant weight and could be detrimental to the country.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's tweet asking how many aircraft we lost, BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia says, "When Operation Sindoor is going on, Rahul Gandhi is giving careless statements. He is asking how many IAF jets are down. On May 11, during a press briefing,… pic.twitter.com/bIKUaNSJQE
— Media Channel (@ANI) May 23, 2025