With the UN secretary general also putting his weight behind a negotiated end to the Kashmir dispute, indeed also offering to use his good offices to help matters, and India once again ruling out third party mediation, the Modi administration stands more isolated today than all its six or so years in power so far. Also, Delhi’s knee jerk reaction to the Turkish president’s recent remarks in Pakistan – he called out India for its unacceptable occupation and deplorable violence in the occupied valley – proves that the Indian government will do what it can to keep the issue from advancing towards any sort of resolution. If they won’t allow what they call ‘outside interference’, and they won’t sit down and talk with Pakistan, it’s not too hard to figure out what they really want at the end of the day. The PTI government may, and indeed does, have its share of problems internally – and some if not most of the problems are self-made – but it’s successes on the external front cannot really be undermined. The prime minister made a lot of sense and, in effect, did some fine networking at the UN not too long ago. Earlier, he was able to successfully reset a fast deteriorating relationship with the US, which naturally matters more than most bilateral associations at the moment. And, sure enough, more leaders and countries are talking about Kashmir now than ever before. That Modi reads the Indian as well as regional political situation poorly was proved when we went for the controversial citizen amendment act (CAA) while things in Kashmir were still boiling hot; immediately inviting a severe backlash across the country – from people of all religions and backgrounds. So soon after his overwhelming reelection, therefore, he’s been left with a small support base of extreme right wing Hindu politicians and activists only. And he has only himself to blame. To make matters worse still, there’s no indication that BJP might be considering, very seriously as it should be, a de-escalation of sorts from the untenable position that it has got itself into. And since they’re in no mood of backing down, the only thing they can really do is push further on, or risk losing what little support they still have. But that, eventually, will only isolate the Indian government more. Full marks to Indian civil society for finally coming out on the streets and confronting this small band of fascists who’re bent upon destroying their country’s secular soul. It would have been better for everybody concerned if the people had come out sooner, when the BJP went about revoking Kashmir’s special status. Still, they must make sure now that their protest snowballs and knocks some sense into those that run the country. *