Between April and October 2025, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, systematically attributed nearly every instance of unrest, criminal activity, or terrorism within the country to Pakistan. From high-profile terrorist attacks in Kashmir to peaceful yet politically sensitive protests in Ladakh, from crackdowns targeting minority communities to alleged infiltration attempts across the Indian heartland, Pakistan was consistently portrayed as the omnipresent adversary. This strategy served multiple political purposes externalizing domestic challenges, legitimizing harsh internal repression, and sustaining a divisive nationalist agenda while escalating military tensions with Pakistan and raising the risk of further regional conflict.
While Kashmir and Ladakh remained the most prominent theatres of Modi’s security narrative, the government’s rhetoric consistently implicated Pakistan in criminal and terrorist activities nationwide. This approach allowed the regime to frame virtually every security challenge as externally driven, thereby deflecting attention from governance failures and socio-economic inequalities within India.
Targeting Social Activism and Regional Movements
One of the clearest examples of this pattern is the September 2025 arrest of Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh. A moderate activist advocating for legitimate rights, including statehood for Ladakh, local job reservations, and constitutional protections, Wangchuk was accused by the Indian government of colluding with Pakistan. Official claims cited the detention of a purported Pakistani intelligence agent allegedly linked to him and investigations into foreign funding none of which have been substantiated by clear, verifiable evidence. Wangchuk’s case exemplifies how legitimate regional grievances and advocacy for political inclusion are criminalized under the pretext of countering foreign threats.
Crackdowns on Minorities and Dissenters
Modi’s regime widened its net beyond Kashmir, conflating dissent, particularly from Muslim communities and tribal populations, with Pakistan-backed terrorism. NGOs advocating for minority or regional rights were accused of receiving foreign funds from Pakistan or Bangladesh and subjected to bans under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). By framing social activism and advocacy as a threat to national security, the government justified arbitrary restrictions, harassment, and punitive measures against vulnerable communities.
Communal Violence and Political Repression
Between April and October 2025, numerous reports emerged of police crackdowns, detentions, forced demolitions, and extrajudicial targeting of minorities across India. The pretext for these actions was invariably the threat of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Media and government narratives aggressively labeled minority communities and political opposition as “anti-national,” fostering societal polarization and legitimizing state-sanctioned violence. The demonization of Pakistan became a tool for consolidating political authority while suppressing dissenting voices.
Alleged Cross-border Militant Operations in Other States
India’s government further propagated the narrative of external threats through reports of low-intensity terror and sabotage activities, as well as espionage networks in border states like Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Claims of drone attacks and infiltration attempts attributed to Pakistan’s intelligence agencies served to reinforce a nationalistic narrative of perpetual external danger. By linking these alleged incidents to Pakistan, Modi’s administration cultivated a sense of insecurity that justified extraordinary domestic security measures.
International Allegations and Diplomatic Measures
On the diplomatic front, India severed multiple economic and political ties with Pakistan, imposed travel restrictions, and lobbied international partners to recognize Pakistan-supported terror networks as global threats, including pushing for greylisting in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). These measures framed domestic repression as a necessary response to an external threat, providing both international cover and domestic legitimacy for the government’s policies.
Suppressing Legitimate Regional Grievances
Movements across Ladakh, Kashmir, and Northeast India seeking autonomy, land rights, and political inclusion were delegitimized by framing them as foreign conspiracies. Activists advocating for genuine socio-political change were criminalized and targeted under anti-terror laws. This narrative not only silences dissent but also undermines long-standing struggles for equitable governance and minority rights, effectively erasing legitimate concerns from public discourse.
Masking Governance Failures
By constructing Pakistan as a constant external threat, the Modi government deflects attention from widespread human rights violations, discriminatory policies, and failures to address socio-economic disparities. The focus on an external adversary shifts public scrutiny away from the state’s shortcomings in delivering basic services, protecting minority rights, and maintaining social cohesion.
Fostering National Unity Around a Common Enemy
Demonizing Pakistan serves to unify a polarized electorate behind nationalist rhetoric, reinforcing the government’s political base. By framing domestic dissent as the product of foreign influence, the administration consolidates power, justifies extraordinary security measures, and normalizes the erosion of civil liberties.
Intensifying Geopolitical Militarization
The persistent narrative of Pakistani threat has also contributed to regional militarization. Cross-border accusations, operations such as “Operation Sindoor,” and drone skirmishes reinforce an environment of insecurity, undermining peace prospects and development in South Asia. The cyclical escalation of tensions benefits domestic political interests while destabilizing long-term regional security.
Modi’s government systematically instrumentalized Pakistan as a scapegoat for internal challenges, linking nearly every incident of unrest, criminality, or terrorism to an external adversary. This policy of demonization allowed the regime to suppress dissent, delegitimize minority rights, deflect attention from governance failures, and foster political unity around nationalist rhetoric. By exploiting Pakistan as a symbolic and strategic foil, the Modi administration has normalized the persecution of domestic actors, masked socio-political grievances, and intensified regional instability a deliberate, calculated approach to consolidate power and control narratives at both domestic and international levels.
Instead of perpetuating narratives that externalize internal challenges, the Modi government should prioritize social justice, inclusive governance, and the protection of minority rights within India. Addressing legitimate grievances in Kashmir, Ladakh, and other regions through dialogue, equitable development, and respect for constitutional protections would foster stability and reconciliation. Crucially, the resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the expressed aspirations of the Kashmiri people should be central to any sustainable strategy for peace. By focusing on domestic reforms and genuine conflict resolution, the government could strengthen national cohesion, uphold human rights, and contribute constructively to regional stability, replacing divisive rhetoric with policies that reflect justice, fairness, and the rule of law.