By all appearances, India’s ruling BJP thought it had found a strategic opening in the tragic Pahalgam incident. The government and its allies in the media swiftly pointed fingers at Pakistan, hoping to rally international condemnation and diplomatic isolation against its neighbour — all without offering a shred of credible evidence.
But that plan is clearly faltering. Even India’s closest allies, including the United States, aren’t playing along with this narrative. In fact, voices of restraint are growing louder. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who happened to be in India during the attack, advised against any hasty retaliation, warning New Delhi to avoid actions that could spiral into a regional conflict. He did ask Pakistan to cooperate, but his overall tone — like that of most Western leaders — was measured and focused on de-escalation.
The European Union has also urged calm. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed the sentiment, noting that “escalation helps no one” — a clear message to both sides, but particularly aimed at curbing India’s aggressive rhetoric.
Let’s face it: the world is preoccupied. The war in Ukraine continues to rage. Gaza is in ruins. In this climate, few international players have the bandwidth — or the appetite — for yet another conflict, especially one that threatens to ignite South Asia, a nuclear flashpoint.
Pakistan, to its credit, has been working the diplomatic channels. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met envoys from Gulf nations, while Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has been reaching out to global stakeholders. The Pakistani military, meanwhile, has signaled its readiness — a necessary posture given India’s increasingly hostile tone.
Unfortunately, New Delhi doesn’t seem interested in diplomacy. Instead of seeking cooperation or pursuing a joint investigation, it has doubled down on trying to punish Pakistan through multilateral platforms. Indian officials have even asked institutions like the IMF to reconsider their support for Pakistan. That’s not foreign policy — that’s vendetta politics, cloaked in the language of counterterrorism.
It’s important to note that India has yet to offer any public, verifiable evidence linking Pakistan to the Pahalgam tragedy. Without that, these accusations feel more like a political play than a serious international grievance. And the longer this continues, the harder it will be to repair the damage to India-Pakistan relations.
The international community now has a responsibility to step in. The United Nations Security Council should take up the matter before it spirals further. With Greece currently holding the UNSC presidency, a meeting could be called soon — and should be. Both sides deserve a platform to make their case, present their evidence, and be heard. That’s how diplomacy works. That’s how peace is preserved.
India must stop trying to wage war through primetime television anchors and inflammatory headlines. If it believes it has a case, it should present it to the world — in courtrooms and councils, not on cable news. Pakistan, likewise, should be ready to defend itself through facts, not fury.
This is a moment for maturity — not political theatre. The world is watching, and this time, it’s not falling for the script.
