Global conflicts at a record high, half of humanity affected
From the Russia-Ukraine war to Israel's Gaza offensive, from Hezbollah's attacks to maritime disturbances caused by Houthis, the world seems to have no shortage of military conflicts. And the India-Pakistan skirmish only expanded the global areas of conflict. Nearly half the world's population is now exposed to conflict.A whopping 423 crore people from at least 50 countries have been exposed to conflict in the past year alone. At least 10 countries have extreme conflict situations, while 20 have high and turbulent conflict situations, respectively, according to an independent and non-profit organisation, Armed Conflict Location and Event Data or ACLED.advertisement
'While Palestine had the most dangerous and diffuse conflict in 2024, in Myanmar, an average of 170 distinct non-state armed groups were active each week, and the groups changed quite frequently. Ukraine remained the deadliest conflict', ACLED noted in its December 2024 Conflict Index. And in 2025, India militarily retaliated against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and destroyed several terror camps operating in the country.A question now stands: how did so many conflicts erupt so suddenly? The answer is by taking advantage of opportunities presented by geopolitical shifts, interconnections across borders through contagious groups, alliances, proxy forces, and by creating divisions between neighbouring states.RESURGENCE AFTER A BRIEF PAUSEThe world's ever-rising conflicts took a brief pause during the transition to the new millennium in 2000. However, the relative peace lasted for a decade before getting back to older levels. The number of state-based conflicts in 1960 was 15. This rose to 53 in 1991. It went down to 31 in 2010 but scaled to 59 in 2023. Notably, state-based conflicts are those where at least one of the parties is a government.advertisementDeaths of civilians and combatants in state-based conflicts followed a similar pattern. Deaths in such conflicts were 64,873 in 1960, which rose to 80,297 in 1990. It went down to 12,150 in 2005, but exponentially rose to 2.77 lakh in 2022.'Violence in the world is at an all-time high since the end of the Cold War. The figures suggest that the conflict landscape has become increasingly complex, with more conflict actors operating within the same country,' said Siri Aas Rustad, Research Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo, last year.Even as half the world's population is bearing the brunt of ongoing conflicts, the situation does not seem to improve. After one and a half years of war, the Israeli military on Sunday launched extensive ground operations in the northern and southern parts of the already war-torn Gaza Strip.On the other front, Russia launched one of the biggest drone attacks on Ukraine after more than three years of war and at a time when the peace talks are going on. These developments are taking place when the air between India and Pakistan is still hot, and the situation is vulnerable.Trending Reel
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Time of India
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Hans India
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FairPoint: A walk across the bridge of resolve, PM Modi's strong Chenab message
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And when the Pahalgam terror attack happened, India responded with Operation Sindoor -- with military resolve and diplomatic firmness. Amid this operation, India continued with its developmental triumphs. The walk on the Chenab Bridge was a powerful signal to Pakistan, its allies, and the rest of the world. By walking that bridge with the flag aloft, PM Modi asserted territorial sovereignty and also underlined a shift in India's policy from deterrence to direct action. After the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, India has made it clear -- neither the LoC nor Pakistani territory will remain untouched if terror originates from there. The shift started with the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, the revocation of Article 370, and the May 7 Operation Sindoor. These have all marked a shift in India's strategic doctrine -- no longer defensive and reactive but proactive and assertive. Through Operation Sindoor, New Delhi has set a new strategic red line -- if terror is Pakistan's state policy, it will be met with a visible and forceful response. PM Modi's solitary walk was a signal that India will no longer be held hostage by fear nor dictated to by those who trade in violence and chaos. It was also a message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that New Delhi's commitment to development, stability, and integration is not just a promise -- it is a mission. The walk was also a reminder to every Indian watching that the fight against terror isn't only for the security forces to tackle, but it's also in our commitment to progress. Roads, tunnels, railways, and bridges -- these are India's new weapons of peace, built to empower. The PM's walk on the bridge just reflected this. In that silent, deliberate stride was the assertion that the region will no longer be a theatre for conflict but a beacon of connection and progress. PM Modi's visit to J&K came exactly one month after Operation Sindoor, a meticulously executed mission that neutralised nine high-value terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In retaliation, Pakistan resorted to heavy shelling at residential areas in Jammu and Kashmir and also indulged in drone raids across the whole of the western border. India then attacked 11 airbases of Pakistan, following which Pakistan raised the white flag and begged for a ceasefire. Operation Sindoor wasn't just a tactical win. It was a strategic signal: that India's patience with terrorism emanating from Pakistan is not infinite and that every infiltration, every ambush, will be met with proportionate force. By choosing to visit J&K after this operation and walk on the Chenab Bridge, which is just 133 km from PoK, PM Modi linked two critical narratives: the hard power of security and the soft power of development. It reflected the seamless continuation of India's twin-track approach in Jammu and Kashmir -- crush the terror infrastructure while simultaneously empowering the region through unprecedented infrastructure and economic development. This stands in stark contrast to Pakistan's approach to Kashmir: one rooted in radicalisation, violence, and diplomatic falsehoods. It is forcing the youth to die for a false narrative and an insane cause, and has kept the occupied part of Kashmir in poverty and underdevelopment. PM Modi's walk across the Chenab Bridge wasn't just physical; it was psychological. It represented an India that is no longer looking over its shoulder but walking ahead with resolve, dignity, and confidence. Holding the flag was a symbol of ownership of territory, of the future, and of the narrative. Leaders are often remembered not just for what they say but for what they do when it matters. With the Tricolour fluttering against the Himalayan winds, PM Modi's walk on the Chenab Bridge was symbolic and historic. For Pakistan, it was a warning that India will protect its territorial integrity and punish aggression with precision. For the people of Jammu and Kashmir, it was reassurance that they are seen, heard, and included. And for the rest of the world, it was a signal that India is prepared to lead not just economically but morally and militarily if required.
Deccan Herald
3 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
EAM Jaishankar embarks on week-long trip to Europe
Jaishankar's visit to Europe comes a month after India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack and it is expected that he will apprise the European leaders about New Delhi's firm approach in dealing with cross-border terrorism.
