Strategic Expert: Operation Sindoor Was a Diplomatic Disaster but a Political Success

New Delhi: Prominent strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney has described Operation Sindoor as a “political success but a diplomatic and strategic disaster,” following the recent car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed 12 people and injured several others.

In an interview with India Today TV, Chellaney said that the latest arrests linked to the Red Fort blast show that Pakistan-backed terror infrastructure has been rebuilt — the same networks India had targeted during Operation Sindoor.

“If the arrested individuals and the car bomber are indeed linked to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), it raises a serious question about the lasting impact of Operation Sindoor,” Chellaney said. “The mission aimed to punish Pakistan for sponsoring cross-border terrorism. Yet, the terror ecosystem we destroyed is being reconstructed by Islamabad.”

‘Urban Terror Doctrine’ Emerging in India

Chellaney highlighted the emergence of what he called an “urban extension of Pakistan’s terror doctrine,” noting that the terror module behind the Red Fort attack operated from within the National Capital Region (NCR) rather than from Jammu and Kashmir.

“They were working from the heart of India’s capital. The group managed to stockpile nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosives,” he said. “While Operation Sindoor aimed to send a powerful message, Pakistan seems emboldened now. Just look at its provocations and military buildup near SIR Creek.”

India’s Diplomatic Standing Has Weakened: Chellaney

The strategic expert also remarked that India’s diplomatic position weakened after Operation Sindoor, particularly with the United States.

“The Modi-trump relationship deteriorated after Operation Sindoor,” Chellaney observed. “Today, washington’s attitude toward Islamabad has softened, with both the US and china supporting Pakistan financially for their own geopolitical interests. When history looks back, Operation Sindoor will be remembered as a political win, but a diplomatic setback.”

Government’s Response to Red Fort Blast

Meanwhile, the Indian government has strongly condemned the terror attack near the Red Fort, calling it a “heinous act of terrorism” and has ordered security agencies to investigate with “utmost urgency and professionalism.”

Following a Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—his first after returning from Bhutan—the government reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism.

“The Union Cabinet expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the terrorist attack near Red Fort on November 10,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while briefing the media.

Major Crackdown on ‘White-Collar’ Terror Module

On the same day as the explosion, authorities conducted a major crackdown on an interstate white-collar terror network. Eight people — including three doctors — were arrested on charges of providing financial and logistical assistance to terrorist outfits. The Investigation into these networks is ongoing across multiple states.