The brief but intense confrontation with Pakistan in May became one of the biggest foreign policy tests for India in 2025. For a government that has tried to move beyond a Pakistan-centric diplomacy, this crisis dragged India back into the same old frame. It forced New Delhi’s carefully built idea of a Pakistan-insulated foreign policy to face hard realities. At the same time, the crisis also tested EAM S Jaishankar’s diplomatic acumen to some extent.
Pakistan’s ability to challenge India militarily was strengthened by direct support from Turkey and China. According to Dhananjay Tripathi of South Asian University, this time the external involvement was stronger and more open. It was not only about military equipment, but also about intelligence sharing. He says this whole effort to support Pakistan looked like a coordinated attempt to push back against India’s regional influence.
The Return of the Hyphen
For over three decades, India has tried to ensure the world does not always compare it with Pakistan. This effort, called “de-hyphenation,” had largely worked. The world spoke about India’s economy, Indo-Pacific role, technology growth and global leadership.
The 2025 crisis briefly reversed this. Global powers and international institutions again began framing South Asia mainly as an India-Pakistan problem. Talk of outside mediation resurfaced, and debates grew over whether the United States helped de-escalate the situation. Even if Washington did not actually “broker” the peace, as per New Delhi’s claim, the belief that it did weakened India’s long-held position that all issues with Pakistan must remain strictly bilateral.
On the de-hyphenation question, Tripathi says, “It is unfortunate. India had largely convinced the international community that de-hyphenation was necessary. But during Operation Sindoor, this changed, mainly because of US politics. President Trump’s comments about peace and settlement, and his habit of clubbing India and Pakistan together, revived the hyphenation debate. Many Western countries were also unhappy with India’s stand on Russia, so this gave them a chance to put pressure; it is a setback for Indian foreign policy.”
“The bigger worry now is the post-Sindoor situation. Pakistan’s leadership has more visibility; it has signed a strategic agreement with Saudi Arabia, and General Asim Munir has strengthened his power. This creates serious challenges for India going ahead,” he added.
The Narrative Battle
Another key lesson was narrative control. Pakistan worked aggressively to shape international opinion, highlighting the risk of escalation and humanitarian concerns.
Even if India may have performed well on the ground, such as protecting its key targets and preventing significant damage, analysts believe that the image battle was still unclear. In today’s world, image matters a lot. It affects diplomacy, global support, markets, investments and even how a crisis finally ends.
What Lies Ahead?
Tripathi believes the outlook is not positive. He argues that Pakistan remains politically unstable, facing internal turmoil, Baloch unrest, pressure on the army and deep divisions. “Historically, when the Pakistani army is under pressure, it diverts attention towards India.”
“After Operation Sindoor, the army appears to be the biggest beneficiary, with General Asim Munir consolidating unprecedented power. With the military deeply back in control of politics, the risk of future misadventures remains high. India-Pakistan relations are therefore likely to stay tense, with little hope of quick improvement,” he said.
The 2025 confrontation highlighted that India’s diplomacy, deterrence and messaging must move together. As global politics grows sharper and more competitive, credibility will depend not only on military strength, but on how effectively India shapes international opinion, manages crises and protects its long-term strategic autonomy in future. |
