India Faces Diplomatic Isolation

In the last general elections Narendra Modi elected as the Prime Minister of India for the third time. The 2002 anti-muslim riots in Gujrat have been significant event as Chief Minister of Gujrat, where Narendra Modi rise to prominence to use the extremism and anti-muslim sentiments, during which hundreds of Muslims were killed and thousands displaced. Modi is widely perceived as a staunch proponent of the idea of India as a Hindu state, and he has remained conspicuously silent on the injustices and challenges faced by minorities, particularly Muslims.

Under his leadership, the government has introduced a number of divisive policies, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which has been criticised for its discriminatory nature. Moreover, incidents of violence committed in the name of cow protection (‘Gau Raksha’) and increasing restrictions on religious freedom in various states have raised serious human rights concerns. Muslim political representation has declined sharply under Modi's administration, with minimal inclusion of Muslims in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His ideological leanings towards Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist doctrine, stem from his early association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India’s largest Hindu nationalist organisation. The perception that Modi aspires to transform India into an exclusively Hindu nation is now deeply embedded, both domestically and internationally.

India’s foreign policy, once defined by strategic balance and traditional diplomacy with its neighbours, has shifted significantly under Modi’s rule. One of the earliest indicators of this change was the imposition of an “unofficial blockade” on Nepal, which provoked widespread anti-India sentiment among the Nepalese. In the Maldives, the “India Out” campaign gained significant momentum during the tenure of former President Abdulla Yameen, reflecting public opposition to India’s growing influence in the country.

Although Bangladesh's then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was Indian ally, but the anti-India sentiment among the Bangladeshi public intensified. Numerous Bangladeshi media outlets, television channels, and social media platforms echoed concerns regarding India’s interference in domestic affairs. Events such as the Delhi riots and the controversial Babri Masjid verdict further fuelled discontent. Modi’s policies have also strained relations with Sri Lanka, where accusations of Indian political meddling and pressure concerning the Tamil minority have been perceived as infringements on Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, eroding bilateral trust.

Under Modi’s leadership, India’s policies towards Pakistan have become increasingly confrontational. Following the 2016 Uri attack, India blamed Pakistan and claimed to have carried out "surgical strikes"—a move many viewed as politically motivated. Similarly, in the aftermath of the 2019 Pulwama attack, India again accused Pakistan and launched airstrikes in Balakot. Pakistan, in turn, dismissed the allegations and condemned the strikes as baseless provocations aimed at diverting international attention from India’s actions in Kashmir.

That same year, in August 2019, the Modi government abrogated Article 370, effectively revoking the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir. The move further damaged diplomatic relations with Pakistan and led to intensified lobbying by India in international forums such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), seeking to keep Pakistan on the grey list.

Meanwhile, Indian media has largely echoed the government’s narrative, often attributing blame to Pakistan for internal disturbances. Through films, television, and other entertainment platforms, anti-Pakistan sentiment has been aggressively promoted, further entrenching animosity at the public level. Modi’s government has pursued a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including the closure of airspace, suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and expulsion of Pakistani diplomats—all part of a broader strategy to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.

India’s foreign relations beyond South Asia have also been significantly affected. Modi’s policies have coincided in maintaining the ties with traditional partners across Africa, Europe, and even Russia. India’s ambiguous stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict raised eyebrows in the West, while Moscow has increasingly turned towards China as a strategic partner. The grand vision of India as a rising global power has been undermined by internal extremism, regional discord, and a belligerent foreign policy posture.

Tensions with China have also worsened in the recent past. Following the deadly 2020 clashes in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh, India imposed a series of restrictions targeting China, including bans on Chinese mobile applications, investment limitations, and a renewed focus on the ‘Make in India’ initiative. These moves, while framed as measures to safeguard national security, further destabilised an already fragile regional equilibrium. As a close ally of Pakistan and a major stakeholder in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China has viewed India’s opposition to CPEC as hostile act. Modi’s administration has not only opposed CPEC but has also engaged in an international campaign to discredit the project.

The assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada severely damaged India’s global image, as the then Prime Minister Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement based on credible intelligence. The incident sparked serious diplomatic tensions, with both countries expelling diplomats and ties worsening. It reinforced the perception of India’s involvement in both regional and international acts of terrorism.

More recently, on 22 April 2025, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 Hindu tourists and left many injured. Indian authorities swiftly and without evidence blamed Pakistan, alleging that two of the assailants were Pakistani nationals. Such premature and unsubstantiated accusations are not only unprofessional but also jeopardise regional peace and stability. The Modi government’s hasty response appeared designed to serve domestic political interests by diverting public attention from pressing internal issues such as inflation and unemployment. Pakistan categorically rejected the allegations and offered full cooperation in an independent investigation, emphasising that baseless accusations contravene principles of international law and responsible statecraft.

The Modi era has marked a fundamental transformation in India's global standing. Rather than being perceived as a responsible and constructive global power, India under Modi is increasingly viewed as an assertive, self-interested state, growing distant from its neighbours and estranged from long-standing international allies. The aspiration of establishing India as a global superpower now appears to be at odds with the realities of internal extremism, regional tensions, and flawed diplomatic engagements.