The Congress party has launched a sharp critique of the government’s handling of relations with Pakistan, coinciding with the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor. The opposition party suggested that despite India‘s diplomatic efforts, Pakistan has not experienced the same level of isolation it faced following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted several key points surrounding Operation Sindoor. According to Ramesh, the initial ceasefire announcement that brought the operation to an unexpected halt was made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 10, 2025. Rubio reportedly attributed the breakthrough to the intervention of President Trump.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that the anniversary of Operation Sindoor has become a focal point for political contention. Ramesh referenced a statement made by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Singapore on May 30, 2025, where Chauhan acknowledged India’s initial setbacks due to tactical errors. However, Chauhan noted that India adapted, rectified its approach, and executed precision strikes deep within Pakistan, demonstrating resilience, Ramesh recalled.
Ramesh further pointed to an admission by the Defence Attache at the Indian Embassy in Indonesia during a Jakarta seminar on June 10, 2025. The Defence Attache reportedly acknowledged that India lost aircraft on May 7, 2025, due to constraints imposed by the political leadership. Adding to the critique, Ramesh cited a statement by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Rahul Singh on July 4, 2025, drawing attention to China’s significant role in Pakistan’s response to Operation Sindoor. Singh suggested that China provided critical equipment, ammunition, satellite imagery, and real-time targeting support.
Ramesh accused the current government of “calibrated capitulation” to China, despite these alleged interventions. He cited the loss of traditional patrolling rights in Ladakh, record Chinese imports, and the relaxation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms as evidence. Ramesh went on to say that despite India’s diplomatic efforts, Pakistan has not faced the same isolation as after the Mumbai attacks in 2008; According to Ramesh, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, has been “embraced with extraordinary warmth” by President Trump since June 2025, and the U.S. military establishment has praised Pakistan, a country Ramesh described as the “world’s leading sponsor of cross-border terrorism.”
Ramesh drew a parallel with the Kargil War in 1999, noting that the Vajpayee government established a Kargil Review Committee, led by strategic affairs expert K. Subrahmanyam, to analyze the events and provide recommendations. The committee’s report, titled “From Surprise to Reckoning,” was submitted on January 7, 2000, and tabled in Parliament on February 23, 2000.
It was reported that Operation Sindoor was launched last year following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists. India responded with airstrikes on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it was reported. According to reports, the strikes triggered a rapid escalation in tensions, with Pakistan launching retaliatory actions, most of which were reportedly thwarted by the Indian military. Through hotline discussions between army officials, hostilities concluded on May 10 with an agreement to cease military operations, it was reported.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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