Asif Mahmood
India and Israel—identical in both ideology and method—stand today as political pariahs, increasingly isolated on the global stage. While the international system remains too driven by interests to take definitive stances against these two ethno-nationalist and fascist regimes, the global conscience is steadily turning against them.
This is not merely an opposition rhetoric; it is a demonstrable truth. Modi has stripped away the secular veneer crafted by Congress, exposing the face of militant Hindu nationalism. The world is witnessing both states become active threats to global peace: India in South Asia, just as Israel is in the Middle East. Both are expansionist, both are violators of international law, and both are led by ideologues—Modi as a Hindutva hardliner, Netanyahu as a Zionist ultranationalist.
The UN General Assembly has passed numerous resolutions declaring Israel an apartheid and occupying power. Though U.S. vetoes shield it in the Security Council, its global isolation has become evident. Even its Western allies are now compelled—under public pressure—to criticize its actions. American universities, like Harvard, face sanctions and censorship simply for allowing anti-Israel voices to emerge.
A similar unraveling is happening with India. The ideological layers of Hindutva are being peeled away, revealing its toxicity. Despite its allure as a vast consumer market, India found itself alone in the recent conflict—except for Israel. No nation condemned Pakistan; several criticized India. This diplomatic isolation has deeply unsettled New Delhi.
This diplomatic solitude may become permanent unless Hindutva’s provocations are curbed. The ideology is not only a regional threat—it now menaces the social fabric of countries like Canada and the U.S., where Hindu nationalist organizations function as ideological satellites of the Indian state. The consequences are no longer theoretical: Canada has faced targeted killings; extremist networks are now transnational.
Pakistan, too, has suffered attacks backed by India—with evidence presented regularly to the international community. That global responses are now shifting is no accident. Even Russia’s neutrality in India’s favor is being questioned. Analysts wonder: will conflict with Pakistan now mean confrontation with China?
Israel is experiencing similar frustration, lashing out at Western governments for perceived betrayals. Both nations are losing regional hegemony. The Arab world, while avoiding direct confrontation, is reasserting its geopolitical weight: Turkey’s role is rising; Saudi Arabia is opening new avenues in Syria; Qatar is strengthening its diplomatic presence. The Middle East is no longer a garden path for Israel—it is becoming a quagmire. And then there is Iran that has literally eviscerated Israeli cities in a just and lawful retaliation.
Likewise, India’s grip on South Asia is loosening. Bangladesh no longer serves as its proxy; its gambits in Afghanistan have failed. China now stands firm, pledging cooperation—not conflict—with Pakistan and Afghanistan. A new regional alignment is in the making.
The early signs of a changing world order are now visible. And if history teaches us anything, it is that no moment—nor monopoly—lasts forever.