In a fiery intervention during the ongoing Operation Sindoor debate in Lok Sabha, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised serious concerns about India’s sports diplomacy with Pakistan amidst heightened tensions and strong military actions. He sharply questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government for continuing cricket ties with a country whose trade, water sharing, and airspace access India has actively blocked.

Owaisi pointed out the contradiction in India’s foreign and domestic policy stance, asking, “If blood and water can't flow together, then why play cricket with Pakistan?” His remarks referred to the Indian government’s past assertion, famously quoted by PM Narendra Modi, that terrorism and diplomacy cannot go hand in hand.

The MP from Hyderabad stressed that Pakistan's core objective remains to destabilise India and that such sports exchanges could dilute the gravity of national threats. He called on the government to show consistency in its diplomatic stance, urging national unity in the face of repeated terror attacks supported by Pakistan's military and ISI.

Commends Operation Sindoor but Raises Strategic Questions

Owaisi, while commending the Indian Armed Forces for their precision and success in Operation Sindoor, raised concerns about strategic deterrence and lack of clear accountability.

“I congratulate our armed forces. They have made India’s Operation Sindoor a success. For me, destroying the terror camp in Bahawalpur was the biggest achievement... But where is the accountability for repeated attacks? Who should be held responsible?” he questioned.

The Operation Sindoor, executed by the Indian military, targeted and destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK, responding to a series of provocations and terror strikes attributed to Pakistan-based outfits. Owaisi acknowledged the overwhelming support and euphoria across the country but reminded the Parliament of the need to stay vigilant and ensure that symbolic victories are not mistaken for comprehensive policy wins.

Rejects Trump's Ceasefire Claim

Taking aim at former U.S. President Donald Trump, Owaisi scoffed at what he called Western interference in India's security affairs. Trump recently claimed that he helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan post-Operation Sindoor.

Owaisi said, “How can a gora (white man) claim credit for brokering peace between India and Pakistan? Is our foreign policy so weak that it can be influenced by outsiders?”

He warned that India’s national interest must remain sovereign, and called on the government to avoid foreign influence while making high-stakes national security decisions. His remarks were a rebuttal to soft international diplomacy that often undermines India’s assertive actions on the ground.

Urges Pakistan's FATF Grey Listing

In a pointed policy recommendation, Owaisi asked the Indian government to convince G7 nations and international stakeholders to re-list Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. He argued that despite repeated evidence of Pakistan’s financial and military support to terrorist activities, it continues to evade sanctions due to diplomatic shielding by powerful nations.

“Symbolic gestures like cricket diplomacy should not take priority when lives are at stake. We need strong, global action. Re-list Pakistan in FATF,” Owaisi declared.

He urged the government to stay proactive in international forums, ensuring that Pakistan is held accountable for terror financing and sheltering of extremist groups. According to Owaisi, this would be a true deterrent, not symbolic actions or short-lived military gains.

Political Undercurrents in the Debate

The Operation Sindoor debate has revealed deep political undercurrents within the Indian opposition as well. Congress MPs Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor, both of whom participated in the government-led international delegations to present India’s anti-terror stance, were excluded from the speakers’ list during the Parliament debate.

Tewari posted a cryptic message on social media, quoting the famous patriotic song “Bharat ki baat sunata hoon”, in apparent disapproval of his party’s decision. Meanwhile, Tharoor reportedly declined to speak, stating that he could not criticise Operation Sindoor, which he considers a successful military action.

This internal divide within the opposition underscores the larger national dilemma: how to maintain political unity in the face of external threats while preserving democratic debate within Parliament.

Cricket as a Symbolic Issue

The debate around India-Pakistan cricket matches has often emerged during times of escalated tensions, acting as a symbolic barometer of diplomatic intent. Owaisi’s invocation of the phrase “if blood and water can't flow together…” revives a long-standing debate over whether sports and politics can be separated in the context of cross-border terrorism.

The Indian government has previously refused bilateral cricket series with Pakistan, though both teams continue to face each other in ICC tournaments. Owaisi’s speech forces this issue back into the limelight, urging Parliament to take a unified stand.

Conclusion

Asaduddin Owaisi’s remarks during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor highlight a complex web of national security, foreign policy, sports diplomacy, and political accountability. By questioning the government’s decision to maintain cricket ties with Pakistan, he has reignited a long-standing discussion on India’s approach toward its western neighbour.

At the same time, by commending the armed forces while pointing out policy inconsistencies, Owaisi walks a line between nationalism and critique, making his voice one of the most prominent and polarising in this debate.

As Operation Sindoor continues to shape the narrative of India's counter-terrorism strategy, the political discourse around it — inside and outside Parliament — is likely to evolve in the days to come. Whether symbolic acts like cricket diplomacy will give way to stricter international action remains a test of India's diplomatic maturity.

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