When bullets echo in the valleys of Pahalgam, the hollow smiles of diplomacy are exposed.
Following the terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, sealed its borders, and intensified its campaign to isolate Pakistan on every international platform. The question now is not whose statements are more calculated—it is: when the time comes, who will truly stand with India?
The United States appears firmly in India’s corner, not only condemning the attack but also supporting India’s right to self-defense. Quad partners Japan and Australia have also echoed support for India. France, a strategic partner through its Rafale aircraft deal, and Israel, a long-standing collaborator in anti-terrorism operations, are naturally aligning with India.
Russia’s position remains complex. Historically a close friend of India, it continues to stay close under the guise of neutrality. Though unlikely to offer vocal support, Russia is even less likely to side with Pakistan. China, as always, will back Pakistan—but its focus will remain on protecting its own economic interests rather than offering suicidal support for Pakistan.
Institutions like the European Union and the United Nations will traditionally call for peace, but their influence will be limited—especially when powers like the US, Russia, and China are pulling in different directions. Pakistan may receive symbolic backing from China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, but such support cannot shift strategic balance or challenge India’s growing global dominance.
For India, this moment is not just about military response, but a chance for diplomatic triumph. With restraint and strategic acumen, India can frame terrorism as an inherent part of Pakistan’s national identity on the global stage. India must not seek war, but lead with peace—a peace that has no room for terror.
Promises of partnership are truly tested when storms rise. That storm is here. Now we will see which flags are merely stitched to poles—and which ones stand shoulder to shoulder. India must move wisely, for what’s at stake is not just territory, but the future itself.
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