As India and Pakistan teeter on the edge of open conflict following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s bold retaliation through Operation Sindoor, the international community has begun to take sides—some openly, others through calibrated statements or behind-the-scenes alignments. With Islamabad’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, and nearby areas thwarted by India's advanced air defence systems, the geopolitical reverberations have become impossible to ignore.
The crisis is not just about two nuclear-armed neighbours confronting each other. It’s about the global strategic alliances, diplomatic capital, economic partnerships, and counter-terror commitments that are now being tested. The world’s response provides a telling snapshot of the new world order—and how the India-Pakistan equation fits into broader geopolitical chessboards.
Operation Sindoor: A Turning Point
India’s Operation Sindoor—its largest cross-border military response in over a decade—was aimed at nine key terror launchpads and training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), many of which were linked to groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Among them were locations historically tied to the training of Ajmal Kasab and David Headley, revealing India’s intent not just to retaliate, but to dismantle long-running infrastructure of cross-border terror.
Pakistan’s response came in the form of missile strikes, loitering munition attacks, and drone incursions, which were largely neutralized by India’s S-400 and Akash air defence systems. Following this failure, a massive diplomatic scramble began behind the scenes as both countries reached out to global allies.
United States
While the United States has traditionally balanced ties between India and Pakistan, Washington in the recent years has signalled an evident tilt towards New Delhi, especially under the broader Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at countering China.
President Donald Trump said he wants to see India and Pakistan stop the ongoing tension. “Hopefully, they can stop now as they have gone tit-for-tat. So hopefully they can stop now.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dialled his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, seeking immediate de-escalation and expressing support for direct dialogue between the two countries.
Jaishankar later on X said he told Rubio that India will firmly counter any escalation by Pakistan. Rubio reiterated his calls for Pakistan to take concrete steps to end any support for terrorist groups.
Notably, Vice President JD Vance said in an interview with Fox News on Thursday that the United States is not going to get involved in a war that's "fundamentally none of our business".
France
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot strongly condemned the April 22 attack, stating that France fully supports India in its fight against terrorism. He acknowledged India’s right to defend itself and emphasized the importance of restraint from both India and Pakistan to prevent further escalation of tensions.
France, a major NATO and EU military power, ranks seventh in the Global Firepower index. India currently flies 36 Rafale fighter jets acquired from France and is set to add 26 Rafale-Marine variants to its fleet by 2030, under a ₹63,000 crore deal signed in April 2025.
Israel
Israel’s ties with India have grown in strategic importance, especially on matters of intelligence and counter-terror operations.
It has offered one of the strongest expressions of support. ““Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said Israel supports India’s right to self-defence. He also said terrorists must know there is no hiding from the crimes they commit against innocent people.
The Harop loitering munitions used by Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor to target terror hubs in Pakistan were Israeli-made, showcasing Tel Aviv’s direct contribution to Indian military capabilities.
Russia
Though a traditional ally of both India and Pakistan, Russia has largely favoured New Delhi, especially post-2010s.
The success of the Russian-made S-400 in intercepting Pakistani missiles was highlighted in Russian media, portraying India as a trusted and capable partner.
Moscow expressed “support for India’s fight against terrorism” while urging both nations to de-escalate.
Following India’s Operation Sindoor, Russia expressed deep concerns over the current situation. “We are deeply concerned about the intensifying military confrontation between India and Pakistan after the terrorist attack near the city of Pahalgam,” news agency TASS quoted Russia Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova as saying.
Moscow further denounced all forms of terrorism and highlighted that the global community must work together to fight this threat effectively, said Maria Zakharova, reported news agency PTI.
Gulf Countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia)
In a significant shift from the past, several Gulf nations have quietly backed India, recognizing its economic clout and investments in the region.
Abu Dhabi condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and emphasized the need to dismantle terror networks—remarks seen as veiled criticism of Pakistan.
On the other hand, Riyadh, while maintaining a diplomatic posture, has continued its deepening economic and strategic ties with India and refused to issue any direct condemnation of New Delhi’s actions.
Afghanistan (Taliban-led)
In a surprising development, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan expressed support for India, marking a deep geopolitical shift.
Its officials condemned the use of Afghan soil by terror outfits targeting India and indirectly criticized Pakistan's role in harbouring such groups.
Notably, Afghanistan’s former Vice President Amrullah Saleh has backed India’s Operation Sindoor. Saleh tagged India’s retaliatory strikes against the neighbouring country as ‘bold, unprecedented’ and sharply criticised Pakistan’s attempt to label the attack as “cowardly”.
Referring to his earlier post, dated May 4, where he metaphorically stated that “India has placed a very long rope around its enemy’s neck instead of using an electric chair for execution,” Saleh noted that India has “tightened the rope by nine knots”. The “nine knots” here refers to the nine terror-linked locations targeted in the precision strikes, associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
This is part of the Taliban’s attempt to gain international legitimacy and position itself as a state actor, rather than a proxy of Pakistan.
United Kingdom
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that India has every right to take reasonable and proportionate measures to defend itself and dismantle the dangerous terrorist infrastructure responsible for loss of life and ongoing threats. He further stressed that terror groups operating from Pakistan are not only a danger to India but also pose a serious threat to Western interests.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave his full support to India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In a post on X, he wrote, “No nation should have to accept terrorist attacks being launched against it from land controlled by another country. India is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists.”
UK Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel affirmed India’s right to take proportionate action in self-defence and to dismantle the terrorist networks responsible for previous attacks and continued threats.
China
China remains Pakistan’s most steadfast ally. While Beijing called on both India and Pakistan to show restraint, its actions clearly reflect a quiet backing of Islamabad.
“China finds India’s military operation early this morning regrettable. We are concerned about the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other’s neighbors. They’re both China’s neighbors as well. China opposes all forms of terrorism. We urge both sides to act in the larger interest of peace and stability, remain calm, exercise restraint, and refrain from taking action that may further complicate the situation. We stand ready to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in the de-escalation of the ongoing tensions,” Chinese spokesperson Lin Jian said after India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror hubs in Pakistan and PoK.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a phone conversation with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi on April 27. Around the same time, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong separately met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the escalating tensions.
Wang Yi said that China is closely monitoring the developments and emphasized that combating terrorism is a global responsibility. He urged for a swift and impartial investigation, noting that prolonged hostilities serve no one and do not contribute to lasting peace in the region.
Reaffirming Beijing’s close ties with Islamabad, Wang added, “As an ironclad friend and an all-weather strategic cooperative partner, China fully understands Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns and supports its efforts to uphold sovereignty and national security.”
China has provided Pakistan with UAVs, missile tech, and continues investing in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), much of which runs through disputed territory. Yet, notably, China also urged restraint, as it fears wider regional instability might hurt its own investments and expose its western borders to jihadist violence.
Turkey
Following India’s Operation Sindoor, the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan met with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to convey Turkey’s support in the wake of what he described as “India’s unprovoked breach of Pakistan’s sovereignty.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X, “Spoke with my dear brother President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and thanked him for Turkiye’s solidarity and support with Pakistan at this critical time. Appreciate the prayers of our Turkish brethren for the martyrs of yesterday’s heinous missile strikes carried out by India. Briefed him on the valiant efforts of our armed forces who repulsed the enemy with their bravery and professional superiority.”
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has often positioned itself as a vocal supporter of Pakistan on Kashmir and related issues. It has consistently raised Kashmir at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and UN platforms, echoing Pakistan’s positions.
Erdogan, during his visit to Pakistan in February 2025, reiterated Turjey’s firm support and said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through UN resolutions and dialogue, keeping the hopes of Kashmiri people in mind.
In 2024, Turkey put a full ban on the export of weapons and defence equipment to India, moving its defence ties closer to Pakistan.
It has also expressed distress about India’s role in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), seeing it as a challenge to Turkey’s own plans in the region.
Qatar
Qatar’s foreign ministry posted a statement on X on Wednesday about Operation Sindoor, saying, “The State of Qatar is following with deep concern the continued escalation between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Qatar urges both countries to exercise maximum restraint, give priority to the voice of wisdom, respect the principles of good neighborliness, and resolve the crisis through diplomatic means.”
European Union
The EU emphasized respect for international law and the need to avoid escalation, without taking a clear position in favour of either country.
While countries like France and Germany leaned toward India, Scandinavian nations remained more cautious and called for mutual dialogue.
Japan and South Korea
Both Japan and South Korea have deep strategic and economic interests in India but refrained from direct political commentary, choosing instead to monitor the situation closely.
Bottom Line
India’s global stature — driven by its economy, military modernization, and diplomatic assertiveness — has altered the traditional India-Pakistan equation. The international response post-Operation Sindoor shows a clear tilt in favour of New Delhi, especially among major powers and key regional players.
Pakistan, once seen as a pivotal ally in the Muslim world and a frontline state in the Cold War, now finds itself increasingly isolated. Its continued harbouring of terror groups, coupled with economic instability and political turmoil, has diminished its leverage on the global stage.
While countries like China and Turkey continue to offer Islamabad varying degrees of support, India’s growing strategic partnerships with the US, France, Russia, Israel, and Gulf nations have fundamentally shifted the balance of influence.
As tensions simmer, diplomacy will play a crucial role in preventing full-scale escalation. But if the global response is any indicator, the world is no longer viewing the India-Pakistan standoff with the same lens of parity. Instead, it’s increasingly seen as a sovereign democracy defending itself against a state that has long used terrorism as a tool of policy—a framing that New Delhi has successfully pushed into the global mainstream.
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