The government’s foreign policy has failed, says former external affairs minister as he opens up on the PM, Jaishankar, and India’s diplomatic fallout
NEW DELHI – As the fallout from post-Pahalgam Operation Sindoor grips national and international attention, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi finds itself increasingly cornered. The diplomatic silence from major global powers has cast a long shadow over what the ruling BJP once touted as its crowning achievement of Modi’s stature as a Vishwa Guru, or global statesman.
At the heart of this emerging narrative is a damning indictment from an unlikely source — Yashwant Sinha, a seasoned bureaucrat turned politician, and India’s former external affairs and finance minister. Once a key figure in the BJP and among those who helped promote Modi within the party ranks, Sinha has now become one of the regime’s most vocal critics.
In a recent conversation with ClarionIndia.net, the 86-year-old statesman described Modi’s global posturing as a “meticulously crafted myth,” one that has been thoroughly exposed in the wake of Operation Sindoor.
“Modi Ji was never a strongman,” Sinha said without hesitation. “It was a fake, deceptive image. Now the truth is out. If there’s one person whose mask has been removed by recent events, it’s Modi Ji.”
The former minister pointed to Modi’s 89 foreign visits across 72 countries since 2014, costing ₹234 crore to the exchequer. “He hugged every world leader, believing that those gestures would make them his mureed — his admirers. But what did we gain? In our time of need, after a terror attack and military crisis, no one stood by us — not the US, not even our neighbours. Only Israel and Afghanistan issued firm statements. The rest were just diplomatic formalities,” he said.
Jaishankar a ‘Glorified Secretary’
Sinha was equally scathing in his assessment of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. When asked about the minister’s controversial remark that Pakistan was informed before the launch of Operation Sindoor, Sinha said it was a “blunder.”
“Even if there’s an old agreement requiring such notification, publicly admitting it was a mistake. Jaishankar may be an accomplished diplomat, but politically, he is inexperienced,” he said. “In any case, he’s not the one running foreign policy. Everyone knows Modi controls everything. Jaishankar is just a glorified secretary.”
A 1991 agreement between India and Pakistan requires prior notification for military exercises. It was signed during Prime Minister Chandrashekhar’s tenure and implemented during PV Narasimha Rao’s premiership.
The Modi-Trump Disconnect
The interview took a sharper turn when Sinha was asked about US President Donald Trump’s repeated attempts to insert himself into the Indo-Pak equation, particularly during the ceasefire talks.
Sinha noted, “Trump is not someone who keeps secrets — he says everything in front of the cameras. Knowing his nature, we should have prepared accordingly. But we failed. And now, the same Trump who Modi once called a ‘Dear Friend’ is openly undermining him.”
He added that Modi’s failure to mention Trump or the US even once in his national address, despite Trump’s aggressive media presence, raises troubling questions. “It sends a very wrong signal when the PM who claims to have a 56-inch chest remains silent. Is it because of the (Gautam) Adani case in the US? Perhaps. But clearly, something is stopping him from speaking.”
A Hollow Foreign Policy?
On the broader foreign policy front, Sinha didn’t mince words: “It’s a failure. A total failure. Hug diplomacy, photo-ops, and massive spending have yielded nothing of value for India.”
He also criticised the decision to send political delegations abroad in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. “The government asked opposition parties to suggest names, and then ignored those names. For instance, Shashi Tharoor’s name was included even though the Congress did not nominate him. That’s against parliamentary tradition and deeply politicised.”
Fractures in the INDIA Bloc
When asked about the opposition’s unity—or lack thereof—Sinha was candid. “The INDIA alliance has not been functioning effectively for the past six months. They should’ve been on the streets, united in Parliament. Internal issues must be resolved quickly, or the alliance risks becoming irrelevant.”
Sinha, who was the joint opposition’s candidate in the 2022 presidential election, expressed concern that the government was trying to exploit these divisions to its advantage.
Dragging the Army into Politics
One of the most alarming trends, according to Sinha, is the politicisation of the military.
“Since 2019, the army is being used for political gains. This is extremely dangerous,” he warned. “We’ve always maintained an apolitical military—something we must protect at all costs.”
He condemned the recent remarks by BJP leaders, including a minister in Madhya Pradesh labelling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a “sister of terrorists” and the deputy chief minister of the state saying the army is at Modi’s feet. “This is unacceptable. Modi Ji should immediately expel such people from the party,” Sinha said.
National Unity vs Electoral Gains
As both the BJP and Congress plan parallel rallies — Tiranga Rallies versus counter-protests — Sinha believes national interest is being sacrificed at the altar of politics.
“In 2019, Modi asked people to vote in the name of the Pulwama martyrs. That was shameful. Now the same playbook is being used again,” he said.
China, Kashmir, and Article 370 Fallout
On the question of whether the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir led to closer China-Pakistan ties, Sinha remarked, “The government’s claims have proven hollow. This is our internal matter, and China’s opinion is irrelevant. But we must admit, the move has had unintended strategic consequences.”
Avoiding Parliamentary Session?
As calls mount for a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has remained evasive. According to Sinha, it’s because the government has no answers.
“Start with the Pahalgam attack. Over 2,000 tourists, no soldier in sight—how did that happen? They’re afraid of these questions. So, they keep creating distractions. But the public is no longer buying it.
In the final moments of the interview, Yashwant Sinha made his most damning remark yet:
“Modi built his brand on the myth of strength. But that myth has been dismantled. Operation Sindoor didn’t just expose diplomatic weaknesses—it shattered the illusion of invincibility.”
