Modi’s political playbook: A threat to regional peace

Van de Haar observes that Ayn Rand in ‘The Roots of War’ traces the ideological root of statism to a primordial form of collectivism, which she termed tribalism. And tribalism, she argues, is a perennial engine of human conflict. Reading Rand’s essay, or Orwell’s 1984, one does realize the genius of utilizing the past as data for a predictable future of humanity. Today we see that forced conflict, reactionary resistance, and economic turbulence is consistently giving way to political lens of empowerment compromising human welfare. 

Rand connects this fundamental statism to primordial tribalism, where issues of food and shelter were settled by wielding power. Even now, with all the possible technological advances, it is sad to see the world stuck in the same mode. Brute force, challenges to duals, and unnecessary violence of speech and action — the ongoing India Pakistan tensions seem to be straight out of 20th century science fiction which predicted a world that is out of hand. And while the neural work promises artificial intelligence, this reality is all about natural calamity if not checked and nipped. 

India, often lauded as the world’s largest democracy, is increasingly wielding nationalism as a tool to divert attention from mounting domestic challenges and growing international criticism. This dangerous political strategy is now a major threat to regional peace. India’s actions in Kashmir, its belligerent stance toward China and Pakistan, and its alarming decline in human rights protections demand urgent attention. 

Nationalism, as a philosophy, protects the state as one cohesive developing community, but aggression is the only cloak that Indian nationalism wears while calling it a justifiable ensemble, where expansionism masquerades as patriotism. One strong narrative that I must mention, as perhaps the only silver lining in this otherwise dark cloud, is the people’s voice on social media. For the first time, a substantial segment of the Indian populace is beginning to direct its skepticism inward rather than reflexively blaming Pakistan. Questions are being asked: Where were India’s vast security forces? What were the 700,000 troops stationed in Kashmir doing? This emerging introspection represents a pivotal moment – and a significant validation of Pakistan’s narrative.

For the first time, a substantial segment of the Indian populace is beginning to direct its skepticism inward rather than reflexively blaming Pakistan.

Muhammad Azfar Ahsan 

Pakistan has repeatedly referred to India’s covert support for Baloch separatists, evident links to terror activities, ventures of Indian consulates in Afghanistan – often serving as hubs for financing and supporting subversive operations with clear trails pointing toward Indian intelligence agencies. On the fronts since 1948, with continuous confrontations on physical and political grounds, Pakistan lives with a hope to activate 91.3 percent of its border for the trade and prosperity of its people. Yet the dream stays a dream, especially when elections in India draw close. 

A pattern has become increasingly clear: India’s provocations often escalate in the lead-up to elections, revealing a calculated political tactic. As Bihar’s elections near, where a rather humiliating defeat was suffered by BJP, signs of familiar maneuvers – Including orchestrated false flag operations designed to inflame anti-Pakistan sentiment and rally Hindu nationalist support – are once again emerging. Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, fear-mongering and the deliberate sowing of division have become cornerstones of political survival, securing short-term electoral victories while sacrificing long-term regional harmony.

“Jana Gana Mana,” India’s national anthem, centers on spiritual humanism, emphasizing unity in diversity, and a vision of India as a harmonious and progressive nation built on freedom, justice, and compassion. That is Tagore’s genius of uniting the land with the historical tenets of compassion that supersede physical boundaries. Iqbal’s ‘Sare Jahan se Acha,’ also recited with same devotion, reflects the philosophy of an India that shines as a diverse harmonious state; Yet Modi’s government has overseen the steady erosion of India’s entire democratic fabric. Media, institutions, and education all have fallen prey to the misguided linear view of intolerance. Religious minorities face increasing discrimination, and the space for free speech has been brutally curtailed. Today, once-revered journalists, intellectuals, and civil society figures find themselves silenced – either through intimidation or suppression – as an atmosphere of fear permeates public discourse.

Modi, the architect of the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, continues to pursue policies that steer India closer to authoritarian rule. His tenure has endangered the once exemplary democratic foundations and destabilized the broader South Asian region. His enduring legacy of fomenting violence and undermining reconciliation is becoming increasingly undeniable.

Pakistan, a nuclear state, with one of the best armed forces in the world, is being forced to think whether it should take the class bully on or be sensible and have faith in the reason of the Indian people and global powers to check this. Pakistan is not an island nation, it wields geo-political alliances and a will to thrive. Talking strictly economics, the point to note is that the future of prosperity in greater Asia and the Middle East will be derived from peace in South Asia.

– The writer is Pakistan’s former Minister for Investment and Chairman of the BoI. He is a change activist, political analyst, and entrepreneur. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) @MAzfarAhsan