PDP Chief Urges India to Use Soft Power Amid Soaring Tensions with Pakistan
Srinagar, May 10 — Amid escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has called on New Delhi to embrace its leadership role in South Asia by taking the first step towards de-escalation. She asserted that India’s real strength lies not in military might, but in its commitment to peace and soft power.Mufti’s remarks followed reports of diplomatic outreach from the United States, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking to Pakistan’s Army Chief Asif Munir, urging both nations to find avenues for peace. This development came after US Vice-President J D Vance initially stated that America would limit its involvement in the Indo-Pak conflict.
“Even though US Vice-President J D Vance initially said that America wouldn't intervene beyond a certain point, in light of the worrying intensity of the situation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now reached out to the Pakistani Army chief,” Mufti posted on the social media platform X.
India Should Not Rely on 'Inconsistent' Global Support
Taking a firm stance, Mufti criticized the reliance on external diplomatic interventions, calling international support “inconsistent.” She urged India to act independently and responsibly as a regional power.“India, as the world's largest democracy and an emerging global power, should not rely on inconsistent international support,” she said. “Instead, India should embrace its leadership role in the subcontinent and take the first step to de-escalate.”
'True Strength Lies in Soft Power'
With the world closely monitoring the evolving conflict, Mufti emphasized that India should set an example by prioritizing diplomacy over aggression. “This is the moment for India to stand tall and demonstrate that its true strength lies in its soft power and commitment to peace, not in nukes,” she added.Context: Precision Strikes and Rising Hostilities
Her remarks come days after the Indian armed forces launched precision strikes on nine terror launchpads located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were a retaliatory move following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which Indian authorities linked to cross-border operatives.As hostilities intensify, Mehbooba Mufti’s call for restraint and diplomacy underscores the growing concern among political leaders about the potential consequences of further military escalation in the region.
