Turkey and China Back Pakistan, But India Gets No Support

When 26 Indian civilians, most of them tourists, were brutally killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, there was global shock — but not global support. And when India responded with precision military action through Operation Sindoor, targeting terror launchpads inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the international silence was deafening.

While China and Turkey openly backed Pakistan, not a single global power unequivocally stood by India. Not the United States, not Russia, not even fellow QUAD members Australia or Japan. The response, or lack of it, has reignited debate over whether India is truly as strategically integrated into the global power structure as many assumed.

National security analyst Nitin A. Gokhale summed it up starkly:
“Post Pahalgam and Op Sindoor, it is clear — if proof was needed — India is alone. In war, in diplomacy, in setting narratives. Not one big power stood unequivocally with India. Not Russia. Not the US. No Quad member.”

Gokhale’s assessment isn't a rhetorical flourish — it’s grounded in what actually unfolded.

Immediately after the Pahalgam attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi and condemned the killings, emphasizing that the perpetrators must be brought to justice. But when Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks on Indian positions, Russia remained silent. No condemnation. No support.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the violence “senseless” and offered condolences. But when India’s counter-terror operations began, Canberra fell silent — no political backing, no diplomatic messaging, no solidarity.

Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba also expressed “shock and anger” after the terror attack and committed to jointly combat terrorism with India. But when escalation began, Tokyo, too, withdrew into diplomatic neutrality.

Even the United States, India’s supposed strategic partner, refused to support its right to defend itself. Instead, President Donald Trump took credit for brokering peace, saying:
“I don’t want to say I did, but I sure as hell helped settle the problem between Pakistan and India.”

Behind the scenes, U.S. officials reportedly used trade threats to dissuade India from launching further military action, something India has denied. But the lack of U.S. support during India’s military response — and Trump’s remarks afterward — have further dented Indian public trust in Washington’s reliability as a strategic ally.
Unlike the ambiguity of India’s partners, Turkey and China made their positions clear — and they were against India.

• Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned India's "aggression" and called for “respecting Pakistan’s territorial integrity.”
• China, long considered a strategic rival, criticized India's cross-border operations and reiterated its call for “restraint,” while continuing to protect Pakistan from international sanctions on terror groups at forums like the UN Security Council.

This contrast — vocal support for Pakistan versus silence on India — is a lesson New Delhi cannot afford to ignore.
The events post-Pahalgam have reaffirmed an old geopolitical truth, one Gokhale reiterated:
“Nations have no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.”

India, with its growing global profile and economy, may be admired or respected — but it is not yet indispensable. The moment it took decisive action against terror, the world’s most powerful democracies backed off, prioritizing balance, neutrality, or trade interests over moral clarity or alliance commitments.
What does this mean for India’s future?
Gokhale offers a clear prescription:
“The way forward is to be a strong economic and military power. Everything else will follow.”

This isn’t a new idea — but recent events have made it non-negotiable. As India continues to battle both terrorism and geopolitical hostility, it must stop expecting others to shape or support its strategic interests.

Be it in diplomacy, defense, or narratives, India must now invest in military deterrence, narrative dominance, and economic leverage. That’s the only currency the world respects — as recent silence from supposed allies has shown.

The refusal of major powers to stand by India in a moment of crisis is not just diplomatic caution — it’s a signal. Not of enmity, but of indifference. Not of hostility, but of hard calculus. And that may be even more dangerous.

This moment should not be remembered with bitterness — but with clarity.

India is not weak. It is rising. But the world does not align with morality or friendship. It aligns with power, influence, and self-interest. If India wants loyalty, it must command respect. If it wants support, it must build leverage. If it wants a voice at the global table, it must arrive not with expectations, but with undeniable strength.

The path forward is difficult but clear: India must become too strong to be ignored, too stable to be pressured, and too valuable to be left alone.

Until then, India stands alone — but not helpless.

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