World News

Two very important points to consider while assessing the current nuclear threat in the ongoing India–Pakistan conflict are, first, that unlike India, Pakistan does not subscribe to the No-First-Use policy. This makes it more likely that Pakistan could initiate a nuclear attack, especially since it cannot match India’s strength in conventional warfare.

Second, India, unlike Pakistan, has a robust nuclear defense system that holds the capability to deter a nuclear attack by air, land, and sea. Strategically, therefore, it would not be a sound decision for a country like Pakistan to engage in nuclear warfare. And considering the current geopolitical world order, both China and Russia would likely ensure that restraint is exercised by both India and China, and that the situation is de-escalated. While India would prefer to avoid a direct conflict with China, the odds are disproportionately stacked against Pakistan. Pakistan simply cannot afford to engage in a full-scale war with India.

Now, turning to the Kashmir issue and terrorism, it is an extremely complicated matter, and it would be naive to take sides based on binaries. What truly matters is the current condition of the people living there. Since the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status, the Indian portion of the state has experienced a semblance of democracy, albeit under heavy surveillance by the central government. Economic conditions had slowly begun to improve, and tourism had grown. The state's economy was projected to see ~7% increase in 2024–25, but after the Pahalgam attack, the situation regressed significantly. However, terrorism is not a new phenomenon in the region. Kashmir has long been disputed and has experienced consistent turmoil since its inception. With periodic armed attacks, ordinary people have found themselves trapped in a persistent political quagmire.

India and Pakistan have been in conflict for decades, but the stakes became significantly higher after both countries acquired nuclear armaments. Since then, Pakistan has been engaging with India through the proxy of terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba. India has been subjected to a series of terrorist attacks masterminded by those organizations based in Pakistan. After the most recent attack, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif even confessed on Sky News to Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorist groups. What was once an open secret has now been publicly acknowledged, leaving little room to deny Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism.

But is Modi going to take meaningful action beyond surgical strikes like Operation Sindoor? Most likely, no. This article offers a thoughtful assessment and critique of Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy approach.

There is no doubt that right-wing sentiment is growing in India, mostly targeting Islam. However, the rapid radicalization and weaponization of economically disadvantaged Muslims across the country does not help the Muslim cause. This is very much a class issue, and the class disparity in India is enormous. Religious education of all kinds should be prohibited so that children can grow up with a more scientific temperament. For the country to thrive, religious exploitation, whether through Hindutva politics or Islamic fundamentalism, needs to be stopped.