India’s isolation, Pakistan’s playbook

LAHORE: What began as another India-Pakistan face-off has now unfolded into something much bigger: a full-blown diplomatic reset across South Asia. This isn’t just a border tension or a media battle. This is geopolitics in motion. And this time, Pakistan isn’t on the back foot, it’s the one calling plays.

Let’s start with what became crystal clear: China isn’t just a silent partner for Pakistan. It’s an active, assertive ally. Whether it’s military hardware, diplomatic shielding, or economic alignment, China is standing tall behind Pakistan. The J-10C jets weren’t just impressive in the skies, they were a flex of China’s defence industry, and a message to New Delhi: we’re not backing down.

Even Western analysts couldn’t ignore it. The Economist, a publication known to reflect establishment thinking straight up acknowledged that Chinese weapons gave Pakistan an edge over India. That’s no small admission. When The Economist talks, the West listens. And when it gives credit to Pakistan’s combat readiness, you know the tide has turned.

Now pan the camera to Pakistan’s diplomatic front. Turkey and Azerbaijan came out strongly in support of Pakistan. It wasn’t a vague statement or a neutral “call for peace.” It was open, unapologetic backing. India didn’t like that one bit. Tourism boycotts, trade cuts, and op-eds filled with nationalist angst started flying from Indian outlets. India Today even complained that Turkey stood with Pakistan despite India “rushing in aid” after an earthquake. That’s not diplomacy, that’s emotional blackmail dressed as foreign policy.

And just when India thought it could dominate the digital space, cyberspace had other plans. Bangladeshi users on social media made it clear when it came to standing with truth and dignity, they were with Pakistan. That’s the voice of the people, and it can’t be muted with hashtags.

Meanwhile, in a twist nobody saw coming, Donald Trump jumped in bringing Kashmir back to the international spotlight. In his usual chaotic clarity, he told Fox News that Pakistan makes “very good products” and that the U.S. should increase trade. That’s not just a trade plug, it’s a subtle slap to India’s global image.

And speaking of image, India tried hard to isolate Pakistan diplomatically. What ended up happening? India found itself isolated instead. Not even the United States, its so-called strategic partner, came out with the kind of backing it was hoping for. No resolutions. No condemnations. Just awkward silence.

While Pakistan built alliances, India scrambled. In a stunning turn, Indian officials began cozying up to the very regime they spent decades vilifying: the Taliban. Suddenly, Indian media went from demonizing to romanticizing Afghanistan. The same Taliban they called terrorists in every Bollywood thriller are now being described as “strategic partners.” That’s not a pivot. That’s a panic move.

And here’s the fun part, while Indian analysts mocked Pakistan for engaging with Afghanistan, their own foreign minister reached out to Kabul. Why? Because they realized something late: there’s no Afghan game without Pakistan. We host their refugees. We control their trade route. We’re the gatekeepers to the region.

When Pakistan temporarily suspended Afghan trade access to India through Torkham, it sent a chill down New Delhi’s spine. Over 150 trucks stood still. That pause wasn’t just a logistical hiccup, it was a reminder of who holds the cards. Eventually, Pakistan reopened the gate, not out of pressure, but out of goodwill. That’s power with grace.

And as India now explores alternatives like the Chabahar port in Iran to bypass Pakistan, it’s running headfirst into economic reality. That route is expensive, inefficient, and unstable. There is no cost-effective, sustainable access to Afghanistan or Central Asia that doesn’t pass through Pakistan.

On another front, China gave India a subtle but sharp reminder too. After the clash, Beijing released new names for 27 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, what China calls “Zangnan.” It wasn’t just cartographic creativity. It was a geopolitical mic drop. The last time China did this was after Galwan. It’s their way of saying: mess with Pakistan, and you’re messing with China too.

Now let’s look at the scoreboard. Pakistan is backed openly by China, Turkey, Azerbaijan. It has the moral support of people from Bangladesh to Nepal. Even global media is beginning to view it as a balanced power, not a problem state. Meanwhile, India has leaned on one open supporter: Israel. A state currently under global scrutiny for its actions in Palestine. Not exactly the company you want to flaunt if you’re claiming to be the beacon of democracy and peace.

So where does this leave India? Rattled. Cornered. Diplomatically bruised. It underestimated Pakistan’s alliances, overplayed its emotional diplomacy, and is now grappling with the consequences of its own hubris.

Pakistan, on the other hand, played smart. No theatrics. No victim cards. Just precise, calculated moves, military, diplomatic, and digital. It reminded the world that regional stability, trade, and cooperation in South Asia don’t happen without Pakistan’s involvement.

And here’s a reality check for New Delhi: if you’re planning to walk into Kabul with a bold move, you’ll need a map that goes through Pakistan first.