'Pakistan pays no price': Ramesh questions Modi govt’s global strategy
'Pakistan pays no price': Ramesh questions Modi govt’s global strategy
M.U.H
20/02/202621
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh on Friday criticised the Centre’s foreign policy, alleging that India has failed to isolate Pakistan globally in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and accusing the government of prioritising optics over substance.
In a post on X, Ramesh pointed to what he described as continuing proximity between the United States and Pakistan, referring to a recent engagement in Washington DC as evidence that Islamabad has not faced any meaningful consequences internationally.
He said this reflects poorly on the diplomatic approach of the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that no amount of narrative-building can conceal what he termed as a visible gap in outcomes.
Ramesh further argued that despite the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Pakistan has not paid a tangible price on the global stage. According to him, this raises serious questions about India’s ability to mobilise international pressure and build sustained consensus against cross-border terrorism.
Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister’s global outreach, the Congress leader also criticised what he described as an emphasis on symbolic gestures and messaging. He remarked that while the government projects India as a “Vishwaguru”, there is an over-reliance on branding exercises and public displays of alignment with global business leaders rather than substantive diplomatic gains.
Framing his critique through an acronym, Ramesh described the current governance model as “MODI” -- standing for “Maximum Optics, Damaging India”, suggesting that image management has overtaken policy effectiveness.
