The Modi government’s claims of success in the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sandur have come under sharp scrutiny. In a scathing column, renowned Indian writer and security analyst Sushant Singh has exposed what he terms a façade of strategic victories used for political mileage, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Sunday.
Singh raised several pressing questions about the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which occurred over two months ago, yet remains shrouded in ambiguity.
He questioned why no senior intelligence or political official was held accountable if the incident was truly a failure of security. “If this was indeed an intelligence lapse, why has no one been held responsible?” Singh asked.
He also challenged the Modi government’s attempts to link the Pahalgam attackers to Pakistan, asking, “Where is the evidence?”
Turning to Operation Sandur, Singh criticized the government's portrayal of the military operation as a triumphant response.
Drawing a comparison to the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, Singh argued that India seems to be building similar narratives without presenting substantial proof — such as satellite imagery or video confirmation.
He revealed that five Indian Air Force fighter jets were lost during the Sandur operation and that even the modern Rafale aircraft failed to deliver as expected.
“The government is trying to cover or obscure the losses of Operation Sandur, which reflects deep discomfort,” Singh stated.
He emphasized that India cannot afford an escalated conflict with a nuclear-armed state like Pakistan and warned that, unless lessons are learned from the Pahalgam attack and its military response, “India’s strategic future looks grim.”
Reporter: Ahmad Mansoor