With Pakistan positioning itself at the centre of one of the world’s most pressing diplomatic crises – hosting talks between the United States (US) and Iran, and brokering a ceasefire between the two powers – Indians are weighing in, expressing disappointment over New Delhi’s failures starting May last year.

As per the details, Indian netizens are openly criticising Operation Sindoor, which they say now seems to be a strategic miscalculation that handed Pakistan exactly this kind of opening. While Pakistan leverages its neutral standing to mediate between Washington DC and Tehran, offering Islamabad as a platform for negotiations, India, they say, finds itself increasingly sidelined. 

Describing the cross-border action as New Delhi’s most consequential blunders, they maintain that it undermined India’s standing on the global stage precisely when Pakistan was positioning itself as a trusted broker.

Some went on to note that the operation accidently strengthened Pakistan’s hand – both its military, which demonstrated capability in response, and its government, which was facing domestic challenges at the time.

“We messed up, lost financially, due to lack of training, then built a great story and lied to the citizens of India, about how we dared into Pakistan,” read one post.

A more detailed critique stated, “While few in India may openly acknowledge it or agree. Operation Sindoor has arguably been the country’s biggest strategic mistake in decades.” The fallout, it added, had “left India increasingly isolated” while giving space to Pakistan’s institutions to regain ground domestically.

Observers stated that after Sindoor, international powers stopped viewing India’s security claims with the same weight. Meanwhile, Pakistan has capitalised on this erosion of India’s credibility, establishing itself as the platform of choice for resolving regional tensions.

Another reaction said, “One thing is crystal clear: no longer can India frame Pakistan as a ‘terror sponsor’ state.”

Criticism of the government’s narrative also surfaced, with a user writing, “The facade Modi govt projected since Operation Sindoor is now totally fallen apart.”

Another user criticised information control, saying, “As long as BJP’s IT Cell exist – we Indians wil never be allowed to know any truth and reality.”

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to an April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 civilians.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack, claiming subsequent strikes destroyed “terrorist infrastructure” and eliminated at least 100 fighters on this side of the border.

With Pakistan calling for an open probe into India’s baseless claims, the cross-border strikes were followed by retaliatory action from Islamabad, resulting in heavy losses, including downing of several air force jets, on the Indian side.