New Delhi: Pakistan’s long-standing assertion of an ‘Islamic arc of support’ suffered a major setback in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack in Pahalgam, news agency ANI reported, citing sources. Diplomatic engagements and statements from several Islamic countries did not reflect the backing that Islamabad typically anticipates.
Following the April 22 attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, India conducted a series of precise retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over 100 terrorists were neutralised in these attacks, including high-value ones like Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed — perpetrators behind the 1999 IC-814 hijacking and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Muted support across Islamic world
Pakistan’s attempts to mobilise diplomatic and public support across the Islamic world got muted support. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), often perceived as aligned with Islamabad’s stance on Kashmir, issued a delayed and notably restrained statement. India has over the years developed deep diplomatic relations with many countries of the OIC bloc.
“There was a churning in the group. Pakistan was put to a lot of grief because support from them did not come their way,” one source said. This emphasised that Islamabad’s portrayal of unified Islamic backing does not align with current geopolitical realities.
A departure from prior tendencies
In fact, Saudi Arabia, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on an official visit at the time of the attack, extended empathy towards India. Malaysia too issued a statement condemning the Pahalgam attack. It was a departure from prior tendencies to equivocate. “There is no Islamic arc of support to Pakistan, which is the narrative they try to peddle,” the source further said.
While a verbal ceasefire has been agreed by the nuclear-armed neighbours, there has been no concreate measures. A DGMO-level talk between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place on Monday.
