Operation Sindoor Unites Unlikely Allies: Opposition Leaders Rise to Defend Bharat on Global Stage

Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th May: In a political climate often charged with polarization and division, the Bharatiya government’s global outreach under Operation Sindoor has achieved what few initiatives could: garnering support from across party lines, including from some of its fiercest critics. As terrorism once again reared its ugly head in the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor—Bharat’s strategic diplomatic and military response—emerged not just as a show of strength but as a rare moment of national unity. Prominent opposition figures, notably AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, have taken the international stage to voice Bharat’s stance, defend its democratic fabric, and expose Pakistan’s sustained terror propaganda.

A Voice of Dissent Turned Diplomatic Ally

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, known for his staunch opposition to the BJP domestically, surprised many by forcefully backing Bharat during a visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was part of an Bharatiya delegation tasked with countering misinformation in the Muslim world post-Pahalgam attack.

Calling out Pakistan’s long-running effort to portray the Bharat-Pakistan conflict as a Hindu-Muslim binary, Owaisi directly confronted the narrative. “There are 240 million proud Bharatiya Muslims living in India,” he said, emphasizing that Bharat houses a rich tapestry of Islamic scholars fluent in Arabic and highly respected globally. “This is Pakistan’s false propaganda that Bharat is hurting them because they are a Muslim country,” he asserted. Owaisi’s statement comes as a powerful rebuttal to Islamabad’s disinformation campaigns that seek to fracture Bharat’s image in the Islamic world.

Unmasking Pakistan’s Terror Ecosystem

Owaisi’s remarks went beyond just defending Bharat’s secular credentials. He exposed the duplicity of the Pakistani military and intelligence establishment in harboring and promoting terror. Referring to May 9, when Bharat targeted nine terrorist headquarters and airbases in Pakistan, Owaisi said, “If India had wanted, we could have completely damaged those airbases… But we wanted to show them a mirror.”

He also exposed a chilling reality: “The person who led the namaz for the terrorists killed is a designated US terrorist,” he pointed out. The reference here is to Mohammad Ehsan, a known radical figure. Owaisi urged the international community, particularly the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to reintroduce Pakistan into the grey list, citing their brazen support for terrorism. This alignment of views between an opposition MP and the Modi government on such a sensitive foreign policy issue marks a significant development.

Bridging Political and Religious Divides

The Bharatiya delegation to the Gulf included not just BJP MPs like Baijayant Panda and Nishikant Dubey, but also independent voices and former diplomats. Their mission: to dispel false narratives and present a unified image of Bharat—a multicultural, democratic nation where religious minorities flourish.

This coordinated effort comes in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a term that symbolizes not just retaliation but the defence of Bharat’s sovereignty and communal harmony. While domestic politics may divide, external threats are forging a sense of collective patriotism that resonates beyond party lines.

Owaisi’s reminders of the past—how the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government tried to hold Pakistan accountable post-26/11—served to illustrate the bipartisan consensus on Bharat’s right to act decisively against terror. He pointed out how Pakistan lied about the death of Sajid Mir, only to later admit he was alive under international pressure during FATF proceedings. Such recollections demonstrate continuity in Bharat’s diplomatic approach across regimes, undermining Pakistan’s portrayal of Bharat’s anti-terror policy as a communal vendetta.

Rebutting the Jihadist Narrative

Perhaps the most emotionally charged part of Owaisi’s intervention was his recounting of the Ajmal Kasab interrogation. “Our agencies were capable enough to record the audio conversations in which the terrorist group, sitting in Pakistan, was telling those who were killing Bharatiya in five-star hotels to not lose heart, kill as many Bharatiya as you can, and you will go to Jannat.”

This chilling evidence laid bare the jihadi indoctrination cultivated in Pakistani soil. Yet, it was not a Hindu-Muslim battle—it was a battle against the idea of Bharat. The unity shown by Bharatiya Muslims, from citizens to parliamentarians like Owaisi, demolishes Pakistan’s jihadist propaganda.

Nationalism Beyond Party Politics

What stands out in the post-Pahalgam aftermath is the emergence of nationalism that transcends political ideology. While it is routine for ruling and opposition parties to spar over policy, Operation Sindoor has proven that when Bharat’s sovereignty is challenged, the nation speaks in one voice.

That Owaisi—often criticized by the ruling party as divisive—has emerged as one of the loudest voices defending Bharat in the Islamic world speaks volumes about the maturing of Bharatiya democracy. It also sends a strong message: patriotism is not the monopoly of any one party. When Bharat is misrepresented globally, those who care for its image, regardless of their ideological leanings, must rise.

This sentiment has also found echoes in social media and public discourse. Several Muslim scholars, journalists, and influencers have publicly supported Operation Sindoor, framing it as Bharat’s right to defend its citizens and its inclusive civilizational ethos.

A New Chapter in Bharat’s Strategic Diplomacy

Operation Sindoor has opened a new chapter—not just militarily but diplomatically. By sending a diverse team of leaders abroad, the Modi government has wisely projected a unified Bharatiya identity, blunting Pakistan’s attempt to internationalize a communal narrative.

Asaduddin Owaisi’s fierce defence of Bharat on foreign soil, while politically unexpected, is deeply significant. It illustrates how Bharatiya democracy, despite its internal tumult, produces moments of coherence and national pride when it matters most.

In the theatre of global opinion, Bharat has more than one voice, but only one cause—its unity and its sovereignty. And in this cause, even critics become defenders.