By Sardar Khan Niazi

India’s foreign policy under the BJP-led government has undergone a transformation rooted not in pragmatic statecraft, but in the ideological compulsions of Hindutva. Far from serving India’s long-term strategic interests, this myopic approach to diplomacy has narrowed its regional influence, deepened domestic fault lines, and jeopardized its image as a secular and pluralistic democracy. At the heart of this transformation lies the attempt to align India’s external engagements with the RSS-BJP worldview — one that sees India not as a multicultural federation, but as a Hindu rashtra. While India’s founding foreign policy was anchored in non-alignment, peaceful coexistence, and South-South solidarity, today’s diplomacy increasingly reflects cultural nationalism, populism, and majoritarian arrogance. Consider the language used by Indian diplomats and leaders when dealing with Pakistan. The Neighborhood First policy, once a cornerstone of Indian diplomacy, has seen a shift. While it remains rhetorically significant, realpolitik and security interests now dominate regional engagements. The strained ties with Pakistan and China underscore this change. Dialogue with Pakistan remains frozen, with India maintaining a hardline stance on cross-border terrorism and Kashmir–a position that resonates strongly with the BJP’s domestic constituency.  At the heart of the BJP’s foreign policy lies a desire to project India as a global power, shedding the image of a cautious regional player. Foreign policy seems less about resolution and more about scoring points for domestic audiences. This performative nationalism may yield electoral dividends, but it has reduced diplomatic engagement to theatre. Critics argue that India’s foreign policy under the BJP is excessively personality-driven, lacking institutional depth and consistency. India’s relationship with Bangladesh, once a showcase of regional cooperation, has also become strained. Despite economic ties, Dhaka has quietly expressed discomfort with Delhi’s rhetoric around illegal immigrants and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which pointedly excludes Muslims. When Indian politicians accuse Bangladeshi migrants of being termites — a dehumanizing label straight out of fascist playbooks — it sours trust, even if economic cooperation persists on paper. With Nepal, relations deteriorated over the publication of a new political map and Delhi’s perceived arrogance. The notion that smaller neighbors should accept India’s supremacy reflects a colonial mindset more than a regional partnership. Sri Lanka, too, has leaned closer to China and other regional players; in part because India’s moral posturing no longer carries weight. But perhaps most damaging is the loss of India’s soft power. Once seen globally as a bastion of democracy and pluralism, India under Modi is increasingly viewed through the lens of religious intolerance and democratic backsliding. This shift is noted not just by human rights groups, but also by strategic partners. The U.S. State Department, international watchdogs like Freedom House, and even global media have highlighted the repression of minorities, suppression of dissent, and the shrinking space for civil liberties. India’s foreign policy establishment seems to believe that Hindu majoritarianism can coexist with international prestige. But global influence is built on credibility, consistency, and moral authority — not on nostalgia for imagined civilizational glory. While realpolitik is a factor in diplomacy, most nations recognize that ideological extremism corrodes stability. The irony is that India, with its size, economy, and strategic location, could play a leading role in global affairs. But Hindutva’s insularity is turning opportunities into liabilities. Rather than engaging with neighbors as equal partners or advocating for multilateralism, India now resembles an aggrieved power — thin-skinned, insecure, and obsessed with its image. Ultimately, diplomacy rooted in ideology rather than interest is bound to falter. Hindutva’s myopic foreign policy, driven by domestic political calculations, sacrifices long-term gains for short-term applause. India’s neighbors, once wary but cooperative, are recalibrating their relationships. The world is watching — and increasingly, it does not like what it see