SPECIAL EDITORIAL : After Russia and Israel are cancelled, Is India Next?

To retaliate against the attack on Hindus in Pahalgam, India launched a significant counter-operation on the night of May 6, targeting 10 terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, eliminating around 100 jihadis. The Indian Armed Forces received widespread appreciation for this decisive action, with voices rising in support: “Those who dare to harm Hindus will be buried in the ground.”

Pakistan attempted to strike Indian military bases, but India’s air defense systems successfully thwarted these efforts. Reports emerged of drone strikes near Pakistani military bases in Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, and other cities. On the evening of May 8, India clarified that the drone attack on Karachi military base was conducted by India. Overall, these developments are worsening the crisis for a bankrupt and unstable Pakistan.

From Bangladesh to Pahalgam

To assess the situation merely as India’s reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack or the imposition of sanctions on Pakistan would be an incomplete analysis. Global geopolitical dynamics are rapidly shifting. Centers of global power are no longer confined to one or two nations but are now more diffused. As the leader of the Global South, India has emerged over the past decade as a major economic and military power. Now on track to become the world’s third-largest economy and fourth-strongest military force already, India has become a thorn in the eye of many global players.

Efforts to ensnare India have been underway for several years. A recent example is Bangladesh. In mid-2023, Bangladesh was pushed to the brink of civil war, compelling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country. Thousands of Hindus were attacked, hundreds lost government jobs, and temples were set on fire. As the plight of Hindus worsened, demands rose within India for military intervention to protect Bangladeshi Hindus. Had India acted militarily, experts say it would have walked right into a global trap. Instead, India chose diplomacy—a decision that still drew criticism, as the world views India as the true refuge of Hindus.

With that plan foiled, jihadi terrorists were mobilized to carry out the Pahalgam attack—an attack deliberately targeting Hindus. If we connect the dots, it becomes evident that this is part of a larger, well-orchestrated conspiracy. The attack on Hindus in Pahalgam reinforces this suspicion. Anti-India forces appear determined to use Pakistan-backed jihadists as proxies in their larger game. India must now brace itself—the coming months may pose severe threats, both direct and indirect.

This is one dimension of the geopolitical strategy to destabilize India. But the challenges don’t end on the battlefield.

India’s Growing Threat Landscape

In the past three years, the world has witnessed two major wars: one between Russia and Ukraine, and another between Israel and Hamas. A common thread between the two? Both Russia and Israel were led by strong nationalist governments. And in both cases, the world singled them out as villains—Russia on geopolitical grounds, Israel on ideological.

Russia faced severe economic sanctions from the U.S., the European Union, and other Western powers. President Vladimir Putin was issued an international arrest warrant and labeled a “modern-day dictator.” Russia was banned from global cultural and sporting events.

Israel, on the other hand, launched a powerful counteroffensive after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, killing thousands of terrorists. Yet, Israel was accused of “genocide” and “apartheid.” Hamas supporters exist globally—across religious lines, including Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and even some Jews. Communist sleeper cells in elite universities across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia sprang into action, pushing a strong anti-Israel narrative. The International Court of Justice labeled Prime Minister Netanyahu a “war criminal,” attempting to delegitimize Israel’s national defense against jihadi terrorism.

What Lies Ahead for India?

Given India’s recent military operations, it would not be surprising if, in the coming days, similar efforts are made to malign Prime Minister Modi and India globally. For the leftist ecosystem, nationalism and nationalists are their arch-enemies. As long as a nation maintains its sovereignty and pride, it is nearly impossible to dominate it. That is precisely what the global neo-Marxist lobby wants to dismantle.

Today’s wars are fought not just with weapons, but with narratives, technology, and economic sanctions. Despite Russia’s robust economy and Israel’s strong lobbying power in the U.S., they were still targeted and demonized, while Ukraine and Palestine were portrayed as victims.

India, with its vast population, lacks both that scale of economic power and a global “ecosystem” like Israel. Hence, it must be prepared to face these multifaceted challenges. Whatever may the case be, India must adopt the mindset exemplified by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who recently declared:

“There is one rule that guides me: Israel will defend itself—everywhere, against any threat, on its own.” India must also be guided by this principle when it comes to Pakistan.