Opinion Syed Akbaruddin writes: India’s outreach to other nations marks a recalibrated diplomacy

However, all this comes at a time when, in much of the world, terrorism no longer holds the salience it once did post-9/11. Now, the sacrosanct principle of territorial integrity dominates European discourse; the misuse of artificial intelligence is deeply disconcerting to many; economic resilience in a trade order upended by US President Donald Trump remains a shared concern; the climate emergency is widely regarded as an existential threat; the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza reveals how numb the world has become to the pain of others.

In such a world, India faces a diplomatic paradox. How does one sound the fire alarm when others, preoccupied with their own crises, no longer feel the heat? How can India ensure that the red lines it has drawn are noticed and understood?

Some ask, not unreasonably, why India needs to explain itself at all. Do great powers explain,  or do they simply act? Lest we forget, India is still rising, still integrating into global value chains, and still seeking leadership avenues. Promoting better international understanding of our policies amplifies rather than diminishes our national interest.

Historically, diplomacy has followed conflict. That still remains true. But the battlefield has expanded. The conflict quickly spilled into the contested arena of global perception. As Operation Sindoor unfolded, so did the parallel contest. It was a battleground of images, claims, and counterclaims, where information was curated to evoke emotion, misinformation was deployed as strategy, and propaganda was rebranded as policy.

While the guns have paused, the battle of narratives continues. We are in a post-truth ecosystem, where ambiguity is weaponised and outrage algorithmically amplified. Pakistan is seeking to blur India’s gains through misinterpretation and deliberate distortion. In this altered terrain, India’s statecraft needed to adapt to counter Pakistan’s disinformation, deceit, and denial. Enter India’s unprecedented diplomatic outreach to highlight a different narrative.

Seven cross-party delegations comprising over 50 Indian parliamentarians are travelling to 32 countries. Their task is to explain the logic, legality, and necessity of India’s new counter-terrorism doctrine to key decision-makers. India is not seeking applause or alignment, but comprehension and understanding. This is diplomacy of a different kind. Not performative patriotism, but strategic storytelling. It is designed to do three things: Showcase India’s political unity in combating terror, clarify India’s red lines to key global actors, and build narrative preparedness before the next inevitable provocation. The delegations are not limiting themselves to government ministries. They are reaching out to those who sculpt the opinion climate — academics, journalists, legislators, and members of think tanks. This is a whole-of-society engagement, signalling Indian diplomacy’s readiness to move into the global marketplace of ideas.

These diplomatic forays do not replace traditional diplomacy; they complement it. Diplomacy happens not just in closed rooms but also on open platforms. India’s senior resident diplomats continue to do commendable work globally. India is not abandoning its classical tool kit. Instead, India is adapting it to meet the needs of an era where silence is spun into complicity and ambiguity into guilt. India is adjusting its diplomatic posture for a world where perception often precedes principle, and narratives define legitimacy before agreements are even reached. India is not chasing votes or tabulating friends and foes. That is a playbook used by revisionist powers seeking to disrupt the global order. India aims to reinforce the global consensus that terrorism is unjustifiable, unacceptable, and must be met with accountability.

In the India–Pakistan equation, only one side — Pakistan — is seeking to overturn the regional order through non-conventional means. India’s diplomacy is pre-emptive. Its objective is to ensure that when the next provocation occurs, as it inevitably will, our partners are not surprised by our response.

Since bilateralism remains India’s preferred path in ties with Pakistan, India recognises the silence of partners not as indifference, but as tacit support for a proportionate Indian response to any terrorist attack.

The inclusion of parliamentarians from across the political spectrum is not symbolic but strategic. Many are seasoned public figures, adept at public discourse. In a world of troll farms and viral distortion, their skills in public engagement will be critical to narrative building.

Public diplomacy is gaining more space, even as traditional negotiation rooms shrink. Global attention now focuses more on social platforms than on summit communiqués. Today, persuasion begins as much on timelines as on transcripts. The involvement of experienced elected representatives enables India to meet this moment with agility, authenticity, and authority.

As Operation Sindoor enters a new phase, the accompanying public diplomacy is also moving on to noisier, messier platforms. For India’s innovative new initiative to succeed, narrative discipline is necessary. Democracies often struggle to maintain coherence when the emotional temperature is high, but coherence is what converts message into meaning. India’s challenge is simple: In a distracted world saturated with noise, its signals must cut through. Its message must be carried not only by algorithms, but by those representatives now entrusted to speak for a nation that has both bled and stood tall. The precision strikes have paused. It is precise messaging that is needed now.

The writer is former permanent representative of India to the United Nations, and dean, Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad. He is part of the government delegation to key countries after Operation Sindoor