MODI will long be remembered for the systematic infusion of extremism in state institutions of India. Besides this, embarrassments earned one after the other during the BJP tenure have stamped the inconsistent diplomacy. Whimsical decisions made in sensitive matters have eventually damaged the reliability of India as a state. One such relevant example is the unilateral suspension or holding in abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan.
The post-Ukraine war stance of the Modi regime is not well-received by the Western world. While claiming strategic ties with Western powers, including the USA, India continues to maintain trade activities with Russia. Strong criticism from US President Trump on close Indian ties with Russia, especially huge oil imports, pushed Modi into a tight spot. India’s recent decision to cut Russian oil imports by 50% following intense pressure from the United States is a stark reminder of its diplomatic inconsistency and geopolitical desperation.
After months of denying any promises or talks with American President Donald Trump regarding the reduction of Russian oil imports, India’s delayed capitulation exposes its failed diplomatic stance and lack of strategic foresight. The fact that India has not officially communicated these oil import cuts to its refiners reinforces the image of a government caught in contradictions, trying to appease the US publicly while safeguarding its own flawed energy security policies.
The arrival of Mullah Mutaqi, the interim foreign minister of the Taliban regime, on an official tour to New Delhi is no smaller U-turn in Indian policy. Recent engagements with the interim Afghan Taliban, an internationally unrecognized regime, are a paradox that accentuates Indian desperation to fulfill geopolitical ambitions by any means necessary. This move exemplifies India’s willingness to align with extremist elements to counterbalance rival regional powers, notably Pakistan.
India’s latest diplomatic moves show a pattern of inconsistency where it resists global calls until cornered, then bends under external pressure while cozying up to groups it once branded as terrorists, all in pursuit of dubious strategic goals and personal political survival. This approach raises questions about India’s commitment to its stated principles and its ability to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes.
India’s delayed surrender to American pressure has significant implications for its energy security and global standing. The country’s reliance on Russian oil imports has been a point of contention with the US, and the recent decision to cut imports by 50% is seen as a concession to the Trump administration under extreme pressure. However, this move also underscores India’s vulnerability to external pressure and its inability to assert its core interests while confronting powerful players.
The Indian opposition, predominantly the Congress party, is asking the BJP to reassess the diplomatic approach and prioritize national interests over short-term gains. Modi is being accused of neglecting the importance of consistency and policy principles in international dealings, using unethical maneuvers. After the military defeat in Operation Saindoor, the significant retreat of the Modi regime in the diplomatic confrontation with Trump is very irritating for those who remained disillusioned for long, believing that New Delhi had the ability to influence global powers on an equal footing.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
