'snatching Defeat From Jaws Of Victory...': Brahma Chellaney Questions India’s Timing On Pakistan 'ceasefire'

India’s ceasefire pinch Pakistan, declared conscionable 3 days into subject operations, has drawn crisp disapproval from strategical affairs master Brahma Chellaney, who called it nan latest successful a agelong history of 'self-defeating strategical retreats'.

“Snatching conclusion from nan jaws of triumph has agelong been an Indian governmental tradition,” Chellaney posted connected X, arsenic nan authorities confirmed it had agreed to halt each subject operations connected land, air, and sea.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that nan ceasefire followed a nonstop telephone from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) astatine 15:35 IST connected Saturday. “It was agreed betwixt them that some sides will extremity firing and subject action connected land, air, and oversea from 17:00 hrs IST today,” Misri said, adding that nan DGMOs will speak again connected May 12 astatine noon.

While nan authorities insisted nan determination was reached connected India’s terms, pinch sources confirming National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were successful adjacent coordination pinch their U.S. counterparts, Chellaney questioned nan strategy down nan halt.

Chellaney drew parallels pinch past instances wherever India, successful his view, gave distant subject aliases negotiated leverage without securing semipermanent advantage. “1948: India takes nan Jammu and Kashmir rumor to nan UN and agrees to a ceasefire erstwhile nan Army is marching toward victory,” he wrote. “1954: Without immoderate quid pro quo, India surrenders extraterritorial authorities successful Tibet. 1966: India returns Haji Pir to Pakistan, which later becomes a panic launchpad.”

He added: “2021: India vacates nan strategical Kailash Heights and agrees to Chinese-designed buffer zones successful Ladakh. And now, 2025: After launching ‘Operation Sindoor’ to extremity Pakistan’s four-decade-long proxy war, India halts it 3 days later without achieving immoderate clear objective.”

The United States has claimed a domiciled successful nan outcome. President Donald Trump said nan ceasefire came aft a “long nighttime of talks” mediated by Washington. “Congratulations to some countries connected utilizing Common Sense and Great Intelligence,” he wrote connected Truth Social.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said nan statement would besides lead to broader talks astatine a neutral site, but Indian officials person pushed backmost connected that claim. “There is nary determination to clasp talks connected immoderate different rumor astatine immoderate different place,” sources told India Today.

Jaishankar confirmed that India and Pakistan had straight worked retired nan understanding. “India has consistently maintained a patient and uncompromising stance against coercion successful each its forms and manifestations. It will proceed to do so,” he said.

Chellaney successful an earlier question and reply to CNBC-TV18 cautioned against mistaking short-term subject strikes for lasting information gains. “You could termination a 1000 terrorists, and Pakistan, nan world’s biggest coercion factory, would nutrient more. These are disposable assets for their military.”

Published on: May 10, 2025 8:18 PM IST