How Indian PM Modi's efforts to isolate Pakistan backfired'

In 2016, India’s prime minister issued a challenge to Pakistan’s leadership, promising intensified efforts to isolate Pakistan worldwide after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 18 Indian soldiers. A decade later, Pakistan remains far from isolated. Pakistan has close strategic ties with China and has hosted visits by its prime minister, while also reemerging as a trusted partner of the United States under President Donald Trump. Pakistan’s army chief and prime minister have met Trump at the White House, and Islamabad has acted as a principal mediator between the United States and Iran amid their conflict. Analysts attribute Pakistan’s rise to effective diplomacy and geopolitical timing, while also pointing to missteps in India’s isolation strategy.

"Yet a decade later, Pakistan stands far from isolated: It is a close strategic ally of China, where the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, visited this week, and has reemerged as a trusted partner of the United States under President Donald Trump. Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir and Sharif have both visited Trump at the White House over the past year. Islamabad is the principal mediator between the US and Iran amid their ongoing war. Trump has also frequently praised the Pakistani leadership."

"In part, say analysts, that's a reflection of Pakistan's success in wooing Trump, and in capitalising on key geopolitical events to make itself an important diplomatic player for superpowers and regional players alike. But equally, say analysts, Pakistan's growing diplomatic stature underscores missteps by Modi's administration. Certainly, India's strategy of undercutting and indeed isolating Pakistan, regionally and globally, has backfired in a big way, Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow on South Asia at the Atlantic Council think tank, told Al Jazeera."

"Thumping his fist on a lectern, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a direct challenge to the leaders of Pakistan. India has been successful in isolating you, and we will intensify those efforts, he said, addressing a large rally of supporters in the southern Indian state of Kerala, as dusk set in. We will make sure that you are isolated around the world."

"It was September 2016, and Modi was responding to an attack by armed fighters in Indian-administered Kashmir days earlier, in which 18 Indian soldiers had been killed. The leaders of Pakistan should listen: The sacrifice of our 18 soldiers will not go in vain, the Indian leader said."

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