India recently launched Operation Mahadev in Lidwas, near Srinagar, targeting militants allegedly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack. While the government called it a success, there is still no verified evidence linking those killed to the Pahalgam attack. This recurring gap between military actions and verifiable outcomes is eroding India's credibility, both domestically and internationally. What complicates matters further is the abrupt transition from Operation Sindoor to Operation Mahadev, not due to a strategic pause initiated by India, but because of a ceasefire — one reportedly brokered by the United States.

This shift in the tempo of military actions highlights something deeper: India's discomfort in navigating a region where it is no longer the sole power broker. And that discomfort has only grown more visible as India struggles to balance its internal political narrative with external strategic realities.

In the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Pahalgam attack and India's retaliatory actions have sparked heated debate. Home Minister Amit Shah claimed those killed in Operation Mahadev were carrying Pakistani voter IDs and — oddly enough — Pakistani chocolates, as supposed proof of foreign involvement.

But across the aisle, former Home Minister P Chidambaram cautioned........

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