NEW DELHI: A major political storm has erupted after a serious security lapse involving External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who reportedly revealed sensitive operational information related to India’s strike on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. The disclosure has not only drawn sharp criticism from national security experts but also led to mounting pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is now facing the heat for what is being termed as a foreign policy failure.
According to senior diplomats and intelligence officials, Dr Jaishankar’s statement to the media, suggesting that Pakistan was informed in advance of India’s planned counter-terrorist operation, has raised serious concerns about strategic leakage. Experts say this unprecedented move may have inadvertently given key terror figures like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar time to evade the targeted assault, undermining the core objective of the mission—code-named 'Operation Sindoor'.
“This is not just a diplomatic misstep—it is a grave error of judgment that may have compromised national security,” said a top foreign policy analyst. “To inform the very state harboring terrorists of a planned military action defeats the purpose and raises questions about the strategic intent behind the move.”
Former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha has led the political charge, demanding accountability at the highest level. In a pointed interview, Sinha questioned Prime Minister Modi’s silence on the issue, arguing that the public deserves a clear explanation. “This isn’t just about Jaishankar’s lapse; it’s about the leadership's failure to safeguard national interest,” he said.
Sources within the BJP and its ideological parent body, the RSS, confirm growing unrest behind closed doors. Many within the saffron camp believe the foreign policy mismanagement has cast a shadow over Modi’s otherwise strongman image. What has intensified criticism is the perception that the Prime Minister allowed the narrative to spiral out of control, particularly after former US President Donald Trump unexpectedly claimed credit for mediating a ceasefire in the aftermath of the strike.
“Trump’s intervention and the optics around it made India look like a secondary player in its own regional conflict,” said a senior party functionary on condition of anonymity. “That was a diplomatic embarrassment, and many feel the PM should have taken stronger control of the narrative.”
Opposition leaders have seized the opportunity to portray Modi’s foreign policy as reactive and inconsistent. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate called the episode “a failure of diplomacy and leadership,” demanding a white paper on India’s national security operations over the past year.
As pressure builds, political observers believe PM Modi will need to address the issue directly to regain control of the narrative. With general elections on the horizon, any perception of weakness on national security—a key pillar of Modi’s political appeal—could prove electorally costly.
In the wake of the controversy, calls are growing louder for a parliamentary inquiry into the handling of 'Operation Sindoor' and the broader implications of the external affairs ministry’s conduct. For now, the Prime Minister’s silence is only amplifying questions about a foreign policy that many believe has faltered at a critical juncture.
Have you liked the news article?