New Delhi: The political clash between Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has intensified, with Gandhi accusing the Modi government of a “collapsed” foreign policy over its handling of Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan relations. Gandhi’s pointed questions, posted on X on May 23, 2025, have sparked a fierce counterattack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which labeled him “Nishan-e-Pakistan” and accused him of undermining the Indian Armed Forces and endangering national security. The escalating war of words, fueled by allegations of misrepresentation and political betrayal, underscores deep divisions as India navigates a delicate phase in its counter-terrorism strategy post-Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Gandhi’s Renewed Attack on Foreign Policy
Rahul Gandhi escalated his criticism of Jaishankar, questioning the government’s foreign policy on three fronts: why India has been “hyphenated” with Pakistan, why no country supported India in condemning Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack, and who authorized U.S. President Donald Trump to claim a mediation role in the India-Pakistan conflict. In a post on X, Gandhi stated, “India’s foreign policy has collapsed,” tagging a Congress video of Jaishankar addressing the Pahalgam attack and subsequent tensions. Gandhi’s remarks build on his earlier accusations, starting May 17, 2025, when he called it a “crime” to inform Pakistan about Operation Sindoor, alleging it led to Indian Air Force losses. On May 19, he doubled down, labeling Jaishankar’s silence on aircraft losses “damning” and demanding transparency.
Operation Sindoor and the Controversy
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, eliminating over 100 terrorists from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. Jaishankar, in a May 15 statement, clarified that India had informed Pakistan during the “initial phase” of the operation that the strikes targeted terrorist infrastructure, not the military, giving the latter the option to stand down. Gandhi seized on this, alleging that prior notification compromised the operation, a claim the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refuted as an “utter misrepresentation of facts,” stating the warning came after the operation began. The MEA’s clarification has not quelled Gandhi’s attacks, with Congress alleging that the government’s diplomacy failed to garner global support against Pakistan, leaving India isolated.
BJP’s Fierce Counterattack
The BJP has responded with vitriol, accusing Gandhi of echoing Pakistan’s narrative and weakening India’s global stance. On May 23, 2025, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, in a press conference, urged Gandhi to “decide whether you are the leader of the opposition of India or the Nishan-e-Pakistan of Pakistan,” alleging his remarks were exploited by Pakistan’s military to challenge India’s operation. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey further accused Gandhi of hypocrisy, pointing to a 1991 Congress-backed India-Pakistan pact on military transparency, questioning if that was “treason.” BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya escalated the rhetoric, posting memes equating Gandhi with Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir and suggesting he deserved Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Pakistan. The BJP also criticized Gandhi for not acknowledging Pakistan’s losses—nine to ten airbases hit during Indian strikes—while fixating on unconfirmed Indian aircraft losses.
Allegations of Misrepresentation and Political Betrayal
The controversy stems from Gandhi’s interpretation of Jaishankar’s May 15 remarks, which the Congress claims indicate prior disclosure to Pakistan, potentially costing India aircraft. The MEA and BJP have consistently denied these allegations, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarifying to parliamentarians that Pakistan was informed post-strike. The BJP has labeled Gandhi’s persistence a “self-goal,” arguing it revives Congress’s past controversies, like its handling of terrorism during the UPA era (2004-2014), when no Pakistan-sponsored attacks occurred between 2008 and 2016. Congress, in turn, has hit back, with spokesperson Pawan Khera referencing former PM Morarji Desai’s Nishan-e-Pakistan award in 1990 for leaking RAW secrets, and mocking PM Modi’s uninvited 2015 visit to Nawaz Sharif. The mutual accusations of being “Mir Jafar” (BJP on Gandhi) and “Jaichand” (Congress on Jaishankar) highlight the bitter political divide.
Global Implications and Domestic Fallout
Gandhi’s claim of a “collapsed” foreign policy points to India’s struggle to rally international condemnation of Pakistan post-Pahalgam, with no major power publicly backing India’s strikes. Jaishankar, however, has emphasized bilateral resolution, dismissing Trump’s mediation claims and noting direct negotiations led to the May 10 ceasefire. BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad is leading delegations to Europe to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, signaling India’s push for a “new normal” in counter-terrorism, including pausing the Indus Waters Treaty. Domestically, the BJP accuses Gandhi of endangering security by publicizing sensitive questions, while Congress insists it is holding the government accountable. A 2025 ORF survey found 58% of Indians view Gandhi’s foreign policy critiques as “politically motivated,” yet 45% believe the government lacks transparency on Operation Sindoor losses, reflecting polarized public sentiment.
What Lies Ahead?
The Rahul-Jaishankar spat risks overshadowing India’s strategic gains from Operation Sindoor, which Jaishankar says continues to deter future attacks. With the BJP framing Gandhi as “pro-Pakistan” and Congress accusing the government of diplomatic failures, the controversy could shape narratives ahead of state elections in 2026. If unaddressed, questions about aircraft losses and global support may fuel distrust, as seen in X posts amplifying both sides’ memes and accusations. For now, the BJP’s aggressive defense and Congress’s persistent questioning signal a protracted political battle, with national security at the heart of the debate.
