Children in Bunkers, Diplomats in Boardrooms: Who’s Paying the Price?

"Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions." While that sounds clever in hindsight, it couldn't be farther from reality in 2025.
Today, the world is once again witnessing the disastrous aftermath of failed diplomacy in South Asia. But this isn’t just some fictional plot, it's a very real and dangerous standoff between two nuclear-powered nations: India and Pakistan.
As missiles flew and soldiers bled, the usual "peacemakers" in the West led by the U.S., U.K., and a few key EU players did their thing: they arrived, condemned the violence, called for restraint and dialogue, posed for a few photos, and left. Once again, Western diplomacy amounted to nothing more than a series of empty statements, while millions of people held their breath, fearing the political and literal fallout.
So, what went wrong? And why is this more than just a regional issue? It's a wake-up call for the entire world.
Western diplomacy was shaped during the Cold War: a time of two superpowers, strategic moves, and very calculated transactions. Countries weren’t allies, they were just players in a high-stakes game. This mindset still influences the West today, but the landscape has shifted and those countries aren’t just following orders anymore.
Take the India-Pakistan war scenario in 2025. Western nations, in typical fashion, scrambled to stay "strategically neutral." What this really meant was that they didn’t want to mess with existing arms deals, energy agreements, or lose any leverage in the global economy.
Instead of standing up for clear principles, like condemning terrorism or respecting national borders, the West chose to sit on the sidelines. By not taking a stand on key issues, they became complicit in keeping the conflict frozen. In other words, they got too comfortable with maintaining the status quo as long as it didn’t affect their profits or global stability.
When conflict flared up again in Kashmir in early 2025, after another border clash, the world hoped for diplomatic solutions. But here's the reality of what happened:
India called for accountability over terror groups operating from across the border.
Pakistan condemned India's airstrikes as acts of aggression, hoping for international support.
The Western world responded with the usual calls for both sides to de-escalate.
But this approach of treating both sides as equally responsible wasn’t just lazy – it was risky.
It’s like calling both the firefighter and the arsonist “part of the fire” when clearly, one is there to stop it and the other started it. Western diplomacy seemed to blur the lines between self defence and provocation.
The result? A conflict that could have been avoided escalated. Thousands lost their lives, a humanitarian disaster unfolded, and South Asia was left to deal with the fallout on its own.
Globalisation has connected the world, but it's clear that biases still remain. When the war in Ukraine broke out, Western countries responded quickly and decisively, with sanctions, military support, and strong diplomatic efforts. However, the situation with India and Pakistan, two nations with over 1.6 billion people, saw more cautious, inconsistent, and sometimes contradictory responses. Why is there this double standard?
Today, information is more accessible than ever. Young people, particularly in countries like India, Pakistan, and the Global South, aren't buying into the usual political rhetoric. Social media shows the gaps between official statements and what people actually experience. Hashtags spread faster than formal declarations, and memes often poke fun at "diplomatic visits" where nothing significant happens. The younger generation isn't interested in photo ops, they want real action.
The West's influence on moral issues is slowly diminishing. As nations like China, Russia, and other regional powers rise in prominence, countries in the Global South are no longer waiting for approval from the West. They are seeking fair, equal partnerships not lectures. The response to the India-Pakistan situation highlights how regional players, rather than the West, are filling the gaps left behind.
It's easy to talk about geopolitics in abstract terms, but let's make it more real:
Imagine a 9-year-old girl in Amritsar, watching her school being bombed from the other side of the border.
Picture a farmer in Punjab, Pakistan, hearing drones flying above and worrying about his family and livestock.
Think about a mother in Delhi, praying that her son, stationed near the Line of Control (LoC), comes back home safely.
None of these people care about diplomatic language or jargon. They care about simple things: peace, safety, and justice.
But the very organisations meant to protect them the United Nations, NATO, and various envoy commissions are busy issuing watered down reports while attending high-level summits in air-conditioned rooms.
This isn't diplomacy. It's just avoiding the real issues.
The West needs to take responsibility for its actions rather than just sitting on the sidelines pretending to be neutral. It's time for them to stand by their values, call out terrorism, support the right to self-defense, and make it clear that there will be consequences for blocking genuine peace efforts.
We should focus on listening to the voices of the local communities, not just the outsiders with outdated perspectives. People from India and Pakistan who are directly involved in the situation like scholars, activists, and peacebuilders should be part of the conversation. Western diplomats who can’t even name a few places in Kashmir shouldn't be the ones leading discussions.
When it comes to peace talks, it's not just about appearances. There should be clear timelines, measurable goals, and enforceable agreements in place. These talks shouldn’t be mere photo ops for the press.
Lastly, it’s crucial to invest in building peace, not just increasing military spending. If billions are being spent on defense contracts in South Asia, a portion should go towards supporting reconciliation programs, civil society partnerships, and youth initiatives across the borders.
If Western diplomacy is going to remain relevant in the future, especially in 2025 and beyond, it has to change. The Global South isn’t just a backdrop to world events anymore; it’s an active participant with a voice that matters. Conflicts, like the India-Pakistan war, aren’t just regional problems, they're critical to the stability of global peace.
We need diplomacy that listens, not lectures; that takes action instead of just trying to calm things down; that understands history but focuses on creating a better future.
Because in a world where even a small conflict can lead to global consequences, remaining silent isn’t being neutral, it's being irresponsible.
Peace isn’t made in conference rooms. It’s made when people feel seen, heard, and safe. Until Western diplomacy understands that, it will remain a glossy magazine cover on a house that's burning.

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