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Jul 29, 2025
Myind Staff

PM Modi slams Congress for aligning with Pakistani propaganda, says ‘no single leader asked India to stop Operation Sindoor’

A heated discussion took shape in the Parliament over Operation Sindoor, as the ruling government and the opposition confronted each other over the four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan that took place in May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong statement, saying, "No other country intervened and stopped India from carrying out the strikes on terror camps in Pakistan." He said India halted its operations only after completing "100% of its objectives," and issued a warning that any provocation from Pakistan in the future would receive a firm response. He also criticised the Congress party for aligning with what he described as Pakistani propaganda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha that Operation Sindoor would continue and said it served as a warning to Pakistan that India would not stop until Pakistan ends terror attacks. He said, "Operation Sindoor will continue, it is a notice to Pakistan that India will always act till Pak stops terror attacks." He also said the Congress party was uncomfortable with India's growing influence across the world. He remarked, "What is sad and surprising is that those who consider themselves tall leaders of Congress are rattled by the fact that why India's perspective was presented before the world. Perhaps a few leaders have been prohibited from speaking in the House." While addressing the House, PM Modi criticised the Indus Water Treaty and blamed former Prime Minister Nehru for what he called a major mistake. He said Nehru’s decision ignored the interests of Indian farmers and called it "Nehru's biggest blunder." He stated, "Successive governments did not correct Nehru's mistake of Indus Water Treaty, but we made it clear that blood, water cannot flow together." He also said, "Congress sacrificed country's security for their politics of appeasement and vote bank." He accused Congress of compromising national security and brought up the issue of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He said, "Congress has always compromised on national security. Those who are asking today why PoK was not taken back should first answer whose government allowed Pakistan to capture PoK. The answer is clear. Whenever I mention Nehru ji, Congress and its ecosystem get rattled... 'Lamhon ne khata ki, sadiyon ne saza paayi'. To date, the country is suffering the punishment of all the decisions that were taken since independence." He further criticised the Indus Waters Treaty again and said, "It has been a long-standing habit of the Congress to mortgage India's interests. The biggest example of this is the Indus Waters Treaty, signed by Pandit Nehru. Those rivers are part of India’s civilisational identity, our very roots are connected to them. Pandit Nehru agreed to give 80% of India’s water to Pakistan. Can anyone explain the mindset behind such a decision? We were left with only 20% of the Indus River system. They gave 80% to a country that openly calls itself India’s enemy." Referring to the current situation, he said India had put an end to one-sided peace talks and terrorism. He said, "We have shut down the one-way traffic allowing both 'Aman ki Asha' and terrorism." He shared that on the night of 9 May, he couldn’t take a call from the US Vice President because he was in a meeting with the army. He said, "No leader in the world told India to stop its operation. On the night of 9th May, the Vice President of America tried to talk to me. He tried for an hour, but I was in a meeting with my army, so I could not pick up his call. Later, I called him back. The Vice President of America told me on the phone that Pakistan is going to launch a big attack. My answer was that if Pakistan has this intention, it will cost them a lot. If Pakistan attacks, we will respond by launching a big attack. This was my answer." He also spoke about the success of Operation Mahadev, saying, "Yesterday, our security forces brought the attackers of Pahalgam to justice by conducting Operation Mahadev." He accused Congress of siding with Pakistan and showing disrespect to the armed forces. He said, "Opposing the armed forces, negativity for the armed forces has been the old attitude of Congress. Pull up all of Pakistan’s statements and the statements of those who are opposing us here, they are the same with full stop and comma. The country is surprised that Congress has given a clean chit to Pakistan. They dare to ask for proof that the Pahalgam attackers were from Pakistan." He also responded to a controversial remark in Parliament, saying, "She was made to say that Operation Sindoor was a 'tamasha'. This is like putting acid (on the wounds) of the 26 people killed by terrorists." PM Modi said Congress had taken positions that echoed Pakistan’s demands and questioned their intentions. He said, "On one hand, India is moving ahead at a fast pace towards self-reliance, but Congress is becoming dependent on Pakistan for issues. Unfortunately, Congress is importing issues from Pakistan. The country is surprised that Congress has given a clean chit to Pakistan. They are saying that the terrorists of Pahalgam were from Pakistan. Give us proof of this. Pakistan is also demanding the same thing that Congress is making." He confirmed that Operation Sindoor was still active and warned Pakistan of serious consequences in the event of any provocation. He said, "To those asking why Operation Sindoor was stopped, I say -- it hasn’t stopped. If Pakistan dares to provoke us even slightly, they will face the consequences." PM Modi also shared a behind-the-scenes detail of his conversation with the US Vice President, saying, "If Pakistan has such intentions, it will cost them dearly. If they fire bullets, we will respond with bombs." He said this exchange happened on the night of 9 May and by the next morning, India had significantly weakened Pakistan’s military capabilities. He revealed that Pakistan asked for a ceasefire on the night of 10 May. He said, "They said, 'Bahut maara, ab jyada maar jhelne ki takat nahi hai,' and requested us to stop the war." He made it clear that no other country asked India to stop the operation and said, "Not a single world leader asked us to stop. Our actions were precise and non-escalatory, just as we had committed." He further said that India had achieved complete success in its mission and delivered its message to the Pakistan Army within minutes. He highlighted that the objectives were met with full clarity and precision. He pointed out that only three countries supported Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and said that 190 other nations stood with India. He criticised Congress for playing politics even during such a critical moment and said the party showed a lack of responsibility during a national crisis. PM Modi also said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India's strength and self-reliance to the world. He said that India’s use of indigenous drones and missiles proved how far the country had progressed and exposed Pakistan's military weaknesses. He told the House that many Pakistani airbases were still struggling to recover after the Indian strikes. He said the whole country had stood together during the operation and successfully defeated terrorism. He added that the attack on 22 April was avenged in just 22 minutes. He said the Indian forces destroyed terrorist camps in Pakistan and had full freedom to act. He said the army was told to decide when and how to respond. He described the Pahalgam terror attack as a plot to spark communal tensions by targeting specific groups. He thanked citizens for not falling into the trap and said, "I am indebted to the people of this country and deeply thankful for the strength they give me." He ended by calling Operation Sindoor a grand success and said the entire country was celebrating it as a victory. He said this moment belonged to every Indian and praised the armed forces for making the country proud. Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier opened the debate in the Lok Sabha. He sharply criticised the Congress-led UPA governments for what he called their failure to contain terrorism. Shah stated that "Pakistan existed because of Congress," and explained that the ceasefire was established on May 10, when India’s Director General of Military Operations received a call from his Pakistani counterpart. Parliament began the three-day discussion on Monday, focusing on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The BJP and its allies praised the Modi-led government for its decisive action and strong reply to forces supporting terrorism in Pakistan. They also criticised the opposition for questioning the capability of the Indian armed forces. Meanwhile, the opposition strongly criticised the central government, pointing to alleged security failures and referring to US President Donald Trump’s claim that a ceasefire had been established between India and Pakistan. They also raised questions about why security agencies had not yet captured the attackers responsible for the Pahalgam incident.

Jul 28, 2025
Dr Ryan Baidya

Rethinking Sanctions: Why Per Capita Imports Should Be the Metric

In an increasingly interconnected global economy, economic sanctions have become a primary tool of international diplomacy. However, the efficacy and fairness of these measures often come under scrutiny, particularly when the metrics used to assess compliance or impacts are flawed. A critical re-evaluation is needed, especially concerning the common practice of judging a nation's trade relations with sanctioned entities based solely on gross import volumes. As recent data suggests, this approach paints an incomplete and potentially biased picture. The true measure of a nation's economic engagement, and thus its adherence to sanction regimes, should fundamentally shift to per capita import figures. This article analyzes recent export data from Russia and Iran to India, the European Union (EU), non-EU Western nations, and the United States, adjusting all figures per capita for the full fiscal year 2024–2025 (for both Russia and Iran). Also analyzed data for the first half of 2025 for the exports from Russia to the EU, the US, and India. The Flaw in Total Trade Volume The prevailing narrative often focuses on the sheer volume of trade between a country and a sanctioned nation. For instance, when discussing imports from Russia in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, headlines frequently highlight the total dollar value of goods flowing into nations like India. While these figures are numerically correct, they fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of trade: goods and services are ultimately consumed by people, not by landmasses or political entities. A country with a massive population will naturally have a higher aggregate demand for goods, leading to larger total import figures, even if individual consumption levels are modest. To illustrate, consider two hypothetical countries: Country A with 10 million people and Country B with 1 billion people. If both import $100 million worth of goods from a sanctioned nation, Country A's per capita import would be $10, while Country B's would be a mere $0.10. Judging Country B more harshly than Country A based on total imports would be illogical and unjust, as Country A's citizens are consuming 100 times more of sanctioned goods per person. The Numbers Tell a Different Story: India's Case The most recent data concerning Russia's exports by destination for the first half of 2025 starkly highlights this disparity: Destination Total Exports (6 months) Population (2025 est.) Per Capita Imports from Russia India $25-26 billion 1.46 billion $17.1 EU $6.5-7.7 billion 450 million $14.7-17.1 U.S. $1.5 billion 347 million $4.3 As the table clearly shows, India's per capita import from Russia ($17.1) is roughly on par with, or even slightly lower than, that of the European Union ($14.7-$17.1). Despite India's total trade figure with Russia being significantly higher, this is directly attributable to its much larger population (1.46 billion compared to the EU's 450 million). The United States, with a population of 347 million, imported far less both in total and per capita. Data from the previous fiscal year also show that India’s per capita import from Russia is far less than EU, Serbia, and Turkey. Russia’s Exports to Key Destinations – Full Year 2024 Destination Exports from Russia (2024) Population (2025 est.) Per Capita Import India $66.1 billion 1.46 billion $45.2 EU (aggregate) $43.8 billion 450 million $97.3 United States $3.0 billion 347 million $8.6 Turkey ~$35.5 billion 86 million $412.8 United Kingdom $0.712 billion 68 million $10.5 Switzerland ~$0.020 billion 9 million $2.2 Norway $0.068 billion 5.5 million $12.4 Serbia (non-EU) $1.7 billion (2023) 7 million $242.9 Why Per Capita Analysis Reveals True Trade Exposure Countries like Turkey and Serbia prove how smaller populations can result in very high per capita exposure, even if total trade values seem smaller than India or the EU. India’s per capita imports from Russia (~$45) remain moderate compared to Turkey ($413) and Serbia ($243). The European average (~$97 per person) is heavily influenced by a few high-trade nations; smaller EU members may import very little. U.S. shows minimal per-person trade (~$8.6), reflecting strong sanctions and limited economic ties. Per Capita Imports from Russia (2024): [Shows dramatically higher per-person imports in Turkey and Serbia compared to India, EU, or the U.S.] This data directly refutes the notion that India is disproportionately "funding" Russia's war economy. Accusations that ignore this crucial demographic context are not only statistically misleading but also morally unfair, painting an incomplete and potentially biased picture of a nation's economic conduct. A similar pattern emerges when examining Iran’s export data. Iran Exports by Destination – FY 2024–2025 Destination / Region Exports (USD) Population (est. 2024) Exports per Capita (USD) European Union (27 countries) 899.6 M 450 M $2.00 Turkey 2.45 B 84.1 M $29.16 United Kingdom 65 M 68.5 M $0.95 Switzerland 100 M 8.96 M $11.17 Norway 6.14 M 5.51 M $1.11 Serbia 10–20 M 6.57 M $1.52–$3.05 United States 6.3 M 335 M $0.019 India 1.97 B 1,438 M $1.37 Interpreting the Numbers At first glance, Iran appears to export more to India than to the European Union or the United States. But this perception shifts when we consider population-adjusted imports: The EU, despite its reduced economic ties with Iran, still imported around $2 per person. India, with over 1.4 billion people, imported only about $1.37 worth of goods per capita from Iran. Turkey stands out as Iran’s largest non-EU European partner, with imports exceeding $29 per person. The United States, though often vocal in its opposition to Iran’s economic influence, imported a negligible $0.02 per person, making Iran effectively irrelevant in U.S. trade volumes. Per Capita Imports from Iran (FY 2024–25): Highlights Turkey’s disproportionately high per capita imports, with India and the U.S. at the lower end. When evaluated on a per capita basis, India’s trade volumes fall well within global norms and are, in fact, lower than those of the EU and far below Turkey’s. Policy Implications Blaming countries like India for maintaining trade relations with Iran and Russia often ignores context and scale. Goods and services are imported for people, and thus, comparing gross national trade volumes without accounting for population size can distort reality. Policymakers and commentators must consider per capita metrics before casting judgment on global partnerships. This applies equally to Iran–Russia–India trade dynamics, and even more so to emerging powers in the Global South, where large populations often skew total numbers upward while individuals receive proportionally little benefit. Implications for Economic Diplomacy and Consistency Adopting a per-capita metric for assessing sanctions compliance would bring much-needed consistency and credibility to international economic diplomacy. It would shift the focus from raw, often sensationalised, total trade figures to a more nuanced understanding of actual consumption and economic impact per individual. Fairness and Equity: It ensures that nations with large populations are not unfairly penalised for their aggregate demand, aligning the assessment with the reality of individual consumption. Accuracy of Impact: It provides a more precise measure of how much a sanctioned economy is benefiting on a per-person basis from trade with a given country. Reduced Misinformation: It helps combat misleading narratives that can strain international relations and undermine collaborative efforts. Informed Policy Making: Policymakers can make more informed decisions about the effectiveness of sanctions and target areas where actual per-capita consumption of sanctioned goods is high. Conclusion The time has come to reframe the global conversation around economic sanctions. Goods are imported to serve the needs of individuals—not square kilometres, political blocs, or headline-driven metrics. If the world seeks consistency and credibility in its economic diplomacy, then per capita import comparisons must take centre stage. This approach offers a fairer, more accurate reflection of a nation’s economic behaviour, particularly for populous countries whose aggregate trade figures often mask modest individual consumption. Moving forward, any evaluation of a nation's trade with sanctioned entities should prioritise this metric to ensure balance, transparency, and a stronger foundation for global policy. The question is no longer whether the data exists—but whether the international community will continue judging global trade through the lens of blind aggregates, or choose fairness rooted in economic truth. References Russia Trading Economics, “Russia Exports by Country – India,” https://tradingeconomics.com/russia/exports/india. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Population Prospects 2024: India, https://population.un.org/wpp/. Russia’s Pivot to Asia, Russia’s Foreign Trade: 2024 Changes and 2025 Trends, https://russiaspivottoasia.com/russias-foreign‑trade-2024-changes-and-2025-trends. Eurostat, “Population on 1 January by Age and Sex,” European Commission, 2025. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics. U.S. Census Bureau, “U.S. Goods Imports from Russia in 2024,” USTR/Census, https://ustr.gov/. U.S. Census Bureau, “U.S. Population Clock,” 2025. https://www.census.gov/popclock/. TASS / Turkish Statistical Institute, “Turkey’s imports from Russia reach $35.5 bln in 2024,” Nov. 2024. https://tass.com/economy/1879083. UN population estimate for Turkey, 2025. Trading Economics, “United Kingdom Exports to Russia – 2024,” https://tradingeconomics.com/united-kingdom/exports/russia. UK population estimate, 2025. Wikipedia: “Russia–Switzerland relations” (trade volume ~₣ underscores commodity trading), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Switzerland_relations. Swiss population estimate, 2025. Trading Economics, “Norway Exports to Russia – 2024,” https://tradingeconomics.com/norway/exports/russia. Norway population estimate, 2025. Wikipedia: “Russia–Serbia relations,” Russian exports ~ $1.7 billion in 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80%93Serbia_relations. Serbia population estimate, 2025. Iran “Iran Exports to India was US$1.89 Billion during 2022.” TradingEconomics.com, https://tradingeconomics.com/iran/exports/india. “European Union, Trade with Iran – Key Figures.” European Commission – Directorate General Trade, May 8, 2025. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/isdb_results/factsheets/country/details_iran_en.pdf. “European Union Imports from Iran was US$899.61 Million during 2024.” TradingEconomics.com. https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/imports/iran. “2025: U.S. Trade in Goods with Iran.” U.S. Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5070.html. “Iran Total Exports to USA recorded 0.485 million in Oct 2024.” CEIC Data, https://www.ceicdata.com. World Bank. “Population Data, 2024.” data.worldbank.org Trading Economics. “European Union Imports from Iran.” TradingEconomics.com. 2025. https://tradingeconomics.com/european-union/imports/iran Trading Economics. “Turkey Imports from Iran.” TradingEconomics.com. 2025. https://tradingeconomics.com/turkey/imports/iran Trading Economics. “United States Imports from Iran.” TradingEconomics.com. 2025. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/imports/iran WTO Trade Profiles. “Iran.” Trade and Tariff Database (TTD). 2025. https://ttd.wto.org/en/profiles/iran DIIHK (German-Iranian Chamber of Commerce). “EU–Iran Trade Data.” diihk.com. 2025.