{"id":5135,"date":"2025-07-13T08:12:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-13T08:12:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/2025\/07\/13\/indias-image-crisis\/"},"modified":"2025-07-13T08:13:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-13T08:13:33","slug":"indias-image-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/2025\/07\/13\/indias-image-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Image Crisis: How Modi\u2019s Policies Are Damaging Regional Peace and Global Reputation"},"content":{"rendered":"

India\u2019s Image Crisis: How Modi\u2019s Policies Are Damaging Regional Peace and Global Reputation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Advocate Sidra Sadozai<\/strong><\/p>\n

India, which was once praised as the biggest democracy in the world and a shining example of secularism in South Asia, is currently experiencing a crisis in its international reputation. India’s foreign policy, internal governance, and human rights record have come under increasing domestic and international scrutiny under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. India is increasingly viewed as a country that is moving toward authoritarianism, religious nationalism, and diplomatic belligerence rather than being a responsible global actor and a unifying force in the region.
\nIn addition to dividing Indian society, Modi’s harsh policies and Hindutva-inspired agenda have strained ties with a number of important regional and international allies, such as Pakistan, Nepal, and Canada. Watchdogs such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have simultaneously expressed grave concerns regarding the nation’s democratic regression, minority treatment, and repression of dissent.
\nTense Relations with Pakistan: From Discussion to Inaction
\nAlthough India and Pakistan have always had a tumultuous relationship, under Modi, diplomatic relations have hit one of their lowest points in many years. Pakistan viewed the 2019 revocation of Article 370, which deprives Jammu and Kashmir of its special status, as an act of unilateral aggression and a breach of UN resolutions. In addition to escalating tensions, this action resulted in the suspension of diplomatic and commercial ties.
\nThe pursuit of dialogue and peaceful resolution has been supplanted by war rhetoric, cross-border ceasefire violations, and the exploitation of nationalist sentiment for electoral purposes. International observers who are worried about regional stability and human rights abuses in the Valley have criticized India for its inflexible position on Kashmir, which has turned into a major hot spot in South Asia. New Delhi seems more interested in displaying its military might and isolating Pakistan on the international scene than in promoting peace, a strategy that has only heightened tensions.
\nA Neighbor Turned Hostile in the Fallout with Nepal
\nUnder Modi’s leadership, India’s historically close ties with Nepal have also deteriorated. Nepal released a new political map in 2020 that included areas that India claimed due to a dispute over the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh region. Tensions with its Himalayan neighbor grew worse when India patronized Nepal and disregarded its concerns rather than finding a diplomatic solution.
\nAs a counterbalance, Nepal, which has historically been under India’s strategic and cultural sphere of influence, has begun to pursue deeper ties with China. This change demonstrates how Modi’s assertive foreign policy is alienating even friendly neighbors and represents a strategic failure for Indian diplomacy.
\nA larger problem\u2014a lack of tact and regard for the sovereignty of smaller South Asian countries\u2014was brought to light by India’s handling of the border dispute. India is becoming more and more seen as a controlling force that is unwilling to compromise on its neighbors’ interests rather than as a regional leader encouraging collaboration.
\nThe Canada Scandal: Accusations of Assassination and Diplomatic Repercussions
\nWhen Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau openly accused Indian agents of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent supporter of the Khalistan movement and a Sikh leader in Canada, in 2023, it was one of the most concerning indications of India’s increasing isolation on the international stage. An unprecedented diplomatic rift between the two democracies resulted from Canada’s claim that it had reliable intelligence connecting Indian agents to the murder.
\nIn response, India denied the accusations, kicked out Canadian diplomats, and stopped issuing visas to Canadian nationals. The international community voiced concern about the infringement of another nation’s sovereignty, while India accused Canada of providing sanctuary to separatists. India’s reputation as a law-abiding democracy was damaged by the controversy, which also brought into question the accountability and reach of its intelligence services overseas.<\/p>\n

The incident also pointed to a risky trend: the Modi government’s propensity to view dissent\u2014even outside its borders\u2014as a national security threat that needs to be put an end to rather than being resolved amicably or through the legal system.
\nInternational Human Rights Criticism: India Below the Scanner
\nInternational human rights organizations and watchdogs have strongly condemned India’s domestic policies. The Modi government’s treatment of minorities, repression of dissent, and degradation of democratic freedoms have drawn serious criticism from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
\nNationwide demonstrations and international outrage were triggered by the 2019 enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which openly discriminates against Muslims. The ensuing police crackdown was widely denounced as being excessive and targeted, particularly in areas with a majority of Muslims like Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. India’s democratic rankings have only gotten worse due to reports of extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and the use of anti-terror laws to silence students, journalists, and activists.
\nFreedom House downgraded India from “Free” to “Partly Free” in 2024, and the V-Dem Institute labeled it a “electoral autocracy.” Based on field research and empirical data, these evaluations support the international consensus that Modi is causing Indian democracy to regress.
\nUsing Nationalism as a Weapon: Silencing Opponents and Constricting Civil Space
\nThe aggressive use of nationalism by the government to quell criticism is at the core of India’s image crisis. Dissenters are labeled as “anti-national,” “urban Naxals,” or foreign-forces operatives by Modi’s government. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) places scrutiny and limitations on civil society organizations, especially those that receive foreign funding.<\/p>\n

Raids, lawsuits, and arrests are all directed at journalists and independent media organizations. The government’s refusal to accept any unfavorable representation of its actions, even from overseas, is demonstrated by the crackdown on global outlets like the BBC after it broadcast a documentary that criticized Modi’s involvement in the Gujarat riots of 2002.
\nIn addition to undermining India’s democratic credentials, this atmosphere of fear and censorship erodes its soft power, which is the cornerstone of its international standing.
\nIsolation in the Region and Its Effects Worldwide
\nIndia has lost favor in South Asia as a result of its strict policies. The NRC-CAA combination and its effects on Bengali Muslims have drawn criticism from Bangladesh. The politicization of Tamil issues has drawn criticism from Sri Lanka. Once regarded as India’s most devoted ally, Bhutan is now looking more closely at economic alliances with China. China, meanwhile, keeps growing its power in the area, in part because of India’s estrangement from its neighbors.
\nOn the international scene, India’s domestic human rights record and regional aggression are undermining its hopes for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and a leadership position in multilateral platforms. Shared economic and defense interests have kept strategic alliances with nations like the U.S. and France strong, but Modi’s authoritarian inclinations are causing growing unease.
\nConclusion: Regaining India’s Place in the World
\nIndia’s reputation around the world has long been based on its dedication to democracy, secularism, and peaceful coexistence rather than just its economic might or military prowess. However, Modi’s policies have forced the nation to move away from this heritage and toward a future characterized by mistrust, instability, and isolation.
\nIndia needs to shift its policies toward inclusivity, communication, and respect for democratic values if it genuinely wants to be a regional stabilizer and a global leader. This entails protecting minorities, restoring civil liberties, allowing for dissent, and using diplomacy to settle regional conflicts. Until then, India’s image crisis will worsen, harming not only its reputation abroad but also the fundamental principles upon which the country was built.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

India\u2019s Image Crisis: How Modi\u2019s Policies Are Damaging Regional Peace and Global Reputation Advocate Sidra Sadozai India, which was once praised as the biggest democracy in the world and a shining example of secularism in South Asia, is currently experiencing a crisis in its international reputation. India’s foreign policy, internal governance, and human rights record …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5135"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5138,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5135\/revisions\/5138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peakpoint.pk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}