India won the military battle in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, but failed to shape the global narrative, warns geostrategic expert Brahma Chellaney. Read how delayed diplomacy cost India valuable strategic ground.

India’s Military Triumph in Operation Sindoor

On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. With pinpoint precision, Indian forces struck nine militant camps across the border, eliminating around 100 terrorists. The mission was designed to avoid full-scale war while targeting critical Pakistani military infrastructure, including airbases, radar sites, and command centers.

According to Indian officials, these airstrikes exposed the weaknesses of Pakistan’s Chinese-made air defense systems and showcased India’s advanced military capabilities, using a limited number of drones and missiles to strike high-value targets.

Brahma Chellaney: “India Won the War, But Lost the Narrative”

Despite the military success, renowned geostrategic analyst Brahma Chellaney believes India failed on the diplomatic front. In his assessment, India was too slow in shaping the global narrative, which allowed misinformation to take root internationally.

“India’s sluggish response time cost it diplomatic capital. They won the war but lost the story,” said Chellaney.

He criticized India’s failure to effectively highlight Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism and convert a short-term tactical win into a strategic advantage.

The Global Diplomatic Response and Missed Opportunities

After Pakistan’s retaliatory attempts on May 8, 9, and 10, both nations agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, as announced by Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. However, this truce came unexpectedly and lacked proper narrative framing from India’s side.

Chellaney highlighted several key issues:

• Delayed response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of mediation.

• Lack of proactive international engagement during and immediately after the conflict.

• Failure to reinforce the symbolism of the operation, which was framed as a tribute by Indian women avenging their fallen husbands.

Diplomatic Damage Control: Too Little, Too Late?

In a bid to recover lost ground, India dispatched seven all-party delegations to foreign capitals, led by leaders like:

• Shashi Tharoor (Congress)

• Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP)

• Kanimozhi (DMK)

• Supriya Sule (NCP)

• Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena)

• Baijayant Panda (BJP)

• Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU)

These delegations aimed to clarify India’s objectives in Operation Sindoor and reinforce the country’s stance against state-sponsored terrorism.

“Sending delegations now is like shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted,” said Chellaney.

Key Takeaways for India’s Future Strategic Positioning

• Quick, coordinated messaging is crucial in modern warfare—winning the narrative is as vital as winning battles.

• Public diplomacy and media strategy should be integrated into military operations.

• India must prioritize international opinion shaping alongside domestic narrative control.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for India’s Global Strategy

Operation Sindoor stands as a military success but a diplomatic lesson. While India displayed remarkable precision and strength in its military strikes, its failure to manage global perception highlights the urgent need for a cohesive foreign policy strategy.

As Brahma Chellaney emphasized, “India snatched defeat from the jaws of victory” not on the battlefield, but on the international stage. For India to secure long-term strategic objectives, timely and assertive diplomacy must become a central pillar of its defense doctrine.