The Indian government’s conduct of Operation Sindoor, which was launched in reaction to the Pahalgam terror assault, was sharply criticized by Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Gandhi claimed that the military was forced to act with their “hands tied behind their backs” because the Center lacked the political will to adequately oppose Pakistan.
He criticized Defense Minister Rajnath Singh for drawing parallels between Operation Sindoor and the India-Pakistan war of 1971, pointing out that the current administration had not demonstrated a strong commitment to the cause or granted the military operational autonomy.
In his recollection of the historic events of 1971, Gandhi emphasized the decisive leadership of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the autonomy given to Army Chief Sam Manekshaw, which he believed were essential elements in the over 100,000 Pakistani soldiers who surrendered and the establishment of Bangladesh.
Gandhi compared this to recent events and claimed that the administration had undermined deterrence by signaling its intentions to Pakistan and, by its own admission, preferring forbearance. In particular, he cited Defense Minister Singh’s admission that India had proactively been in touch with Pakistan following the strikes on civilian targets, making it clear that India did not want the situation to escalate.
Gandhi claimed that this revelation conveyed a lack of strategic uncertainty and resolve, two qualities that are crucial for successful deterrence.
Gandhi also cited Captain Shiv Kumar, the Indian defense attaché in Indonesia, who reportedly blamed the loss of Indian aircraft on orders not to target Pakistan’s air defenses or military infrastructure, raising concerns about operational restrictions purportedly imposed by the political leadership.
Gandhi claimed that this led to preventable losses and put Indian pilots at more danger. Gandhi insisted that political choices, not the military, were the main cause of the mistakes, even though he acknowledged that the Chief of Defence Staff had commended the Indian Air Force for learning and adjusting.
Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Modi’s quiet on the world front after then-US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that he had mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Gandhi also implied that the diplomatic narrative surrounding Operation Sindoor lacked coherence and substance by arguing that the Prime Minister should openly deny these statements in Parliament if they were untrue.
Gandhi also criticized the government’s ideology, which treats all acts of terror as acts of war, arguing that it gives terrorists strategic initiative and allows them to instigate military escalation whenever they want.
He cautioned that this strategy erodes the idea of deterrence itself, making it simpler for enemies to incite warfare against India.
In conclusion, Gandhi charged the administration for misinterpreting the deterrence principles and establishing a reactive rather than strategically sound policy environment.
