Between April and September 2025 alone, the Indian government repeatedly claimed Pakistani involvement in events ranging from alleged drone attacks in Gujarat to student protests in Ladakh.
The narrative was clear: Pakistan is the omnipresent villain behind every challenge facing India. Yet, time and again, these accusations lacked credible, conclusive evidence. Rather than investigating root causes or pursuing nuanced solutions, the government opted for a strategy of externalization—one that turns legitimate grievances into “foreign conspiracies.”
One of the most striking examples of this strategy was the arrest of SonamWangchuk, a moderate Ladakhi activist known for advocating constitutional protections, job reservations, and statehood for Ladakh. The government accused him of links to Pakistani intelligence, claiming to have detained an agent allegedly connected to his movement. Yet, no transparent evidence has been released. The move signals a dangerous precedent: legitimate social activism is now equated with terrorism, and dissent is painted with the brush of anti-nationalism.
Beyond Ladakh, this trend is more than evident. NGOs that support tribal and minority rights have been accused of receiving foreign funds from Pakistan or Bangladesh, with many banned under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Peaceful protestors, particularly from Muslim communities, are routinely labeled as operatives of Pakistani-backed networks. The government has created a chilling atmosphere in which to speak out is to risk being branded a traitor.
This approach serves multiple objectives. Domestically, it justifies a widening crackdown on civil liberties, from mass detentions and demolitions to the use of anti-terror laws against students, journalists, and regional leaders. It fosters a sense of perpetual crisis, where extraordinary measures become the norm. Politically, it allows the Modi administration to shift public attention away from economic stagnation, rising inequality, and governance failures by uniting a fragmented electorate against a common enemy.
Internationally, India has used these allegations to sever diplomatic ties with Pakistan, expand travel restrictions, and push for international recognition of Pakistan-backed terrorism, including lobbying for Pakistan’s continued Grey Listing by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). However, these moves also risk inflaming regional tensions, undermining stability, and further militarizing the India-Pakistan relationship.
In reality, what we are witnessing is not just foreign policy overreach—it is a deliberate policy of demonization and diversion. By turning Pakistan into a catch-all enemy, the Modi government cloaks domestic repression under the cover of national security. This strategy may serve short-term political goals, but it comes at the long-term cost of democracy, civil rights, and regional peace.
—The writer is regular contributor, based in Rawalpindi
