Queries on Op Sindoor Pointless

K.anwal Sibal, 77, is a career diplomat who retired as Foreign Secretary of India.

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K.anwal Sibal, 77, is a career diplomat who retired as Foreign Secretary of India. He was conferred with Padma Shri for his distinguished services in the field of Public Affairs in 2017. Sibal was appointed to the Indian Foreign Service in July 1966. He has been an ambassador to Turkey, Egypt, France, and Russia. He served as Foreign Secretary from July 2002 to November 2003. In an exclusive interaction with Sushil Kumar of The Statesman, he talked about the Opposition questioning the government on Operation Sindoor; Pakistan once again offering talks; China and Pakistan coming together against India; and the US President, Donald Trump, announcing from the rooftop time and again that he is the one who secured a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

Q. Does the Opposition asking questions about Operation Sindoor give any kind of leverage to Pakistan?

A. There is no point in the Opposition asking questions about Operation Sindoor, as one can talk about it only after 10-15 years and not now.

You must understand that despite the world having images of destruction in Pakistan caused by the Indian strikes, it's not revealing any losses officially. They have not uttered even a word on it; then why are the political parties in India asking to reveal anything about India's loss or anything else in connection with the military operation that we launched against them?

Pakistan is not accepting any claim regarding the attacks and subsequent damage simply because it would be demoralizing for them.

I do not see a point in India disclosing anything about it, especially when it's still going on. Also, the Indian armed forces have made official statements on the entire issue, published papers on it—what else do you want to know?

Raising questions on it is like providing Pakistan an opportunity against India. It will pick it up and make you look weak. The Opposition, by doing so, is taking up the Pakistani line.