Sindoor and India's new normal

Leading one of the seven outreach groups which travelled to 33 countries to communicate India's new normal on Pakistan-backed terrorism was an eye-opening experience. I have had the honour of leading many such delegations in the past, but this one stood out.

- BAIJAYANT 'JAY' PANDA

For starters, conventional wisdom suggested that the countries our delegation visited—Saudi Arabia, Kuwait. Bahrain and Algeria, all Islamic nations—would be difficult to deal with, if not outright hostile. What we encountered was refreshingly different.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's sustained efforts, over a decade, to build relationships with these countries and their rulers, previously long neglected, have led to a dramatic shift in their outlook towards India. This has also been greatly aided by India's rapid economic growth—the fastest among large nations for several years now. Beyond booming trade and investment, tangible proof lies in recent military cooperation and joint exercises with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

There was a distinct sense that, despite their longstanding ties with Pakistan, and sympathy for its people, these countries increasingly see Pakistan as a "problem child". Three powerful developments underscore this divergence.