From Nuisance to Non-Entity: India No Longer Buys Pakistan’s Nucle`ar Blackmail

India’s diplomatic machinery was not idle. In what the Observer Research Foundation described as “a parallel campaign of narrative warfare,” Indian delegations fanned out across 30+ capitals with evidence of Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism. The Indus Waters Treaty was suspended, visa services cut, and diplomatic staff recalled—concrete actions that signaled India’s willingness to pressure Pakistan across every vector, not just militarily. As ORF noted, this new diplomatic posture reflects “zero tolerance as both doctrine and diplomatic strategy.” For years, India sought to make the case against Pakistan in global forums. After Sindoor, it stopped asking for permission and simply acted.

Yet a note of caution is warranted. As VIF scholars argue, “the battle for international perception is far from over.” Pakistan’s disinformation campaigns are already attempting to reframe Sindoor as “Indian aggression.” India must remain proactive—not just in defending its actions, but in maintaining credibility through transparency and communication. Strategic communications, once treated as an afterthought, must now be institutionalized as part of national defense. More importantly, India must be prepared for hybrid pushback. Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba will not disappear overnight. Their retaliation may take the form of lone-wolf attacks, cyber-intrusions, or renewed violence in the hinterland. The test of deterrence lies not in one strike but in sustained strategic resolve.

If they do not, they should expect the next Indian response not just to be harsher—but far less patient.