India’s rise as a global power has been a story of ambition, rapid economic growth, and demographic dominance. In 2024, India surpassed China to become the most populous country on Earth. As the world’s largest democracy and a growing economic powerhouse, India’s ambition to assert itself on the global stage is clear. However, as India seeks to position itself as a regional and perhaps global power, its policies and actions in recent years have raised significant concerns about the potential destabilizing impact it could have—not just on its neighbors, but on global stability. Despite its economic prowess, India’s increasing militarism, suppression of minorities, and controversial foreign policy are causing growing alarm around the world.
India’s Rising Power: Economic Growth with a Dark Side
India’s economic trajectory over the last decade has been impressive. With consistent GDP growth, a burgeoning tech industry, and a rapidly expanding middle class, India has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in global markets. But as India gains economic strength, the policies and actions of its leadership—especially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi—have raised serious questions about its role in the international community.
While the world might hope that India’s economic rise could contribute positively to global peace and stability, recent actions suggest otherwise. India’s aggressive foreign policy, its treatment of minorities, and its involvement in conflicts with its neighbors indicate a different direction—one that threatens to undermine regional peace and, potentially, global security.
India’s Growing Tensions with Neighbors
India’s relationship with its neighbors has long been fraught with tension, but in recent years, these relationships have grown increasingly hostile. While the country’s territorial disputes with Pakistan are well-known, India also finds itself at odds with other neighbors, both large and small. The volatile situation with China, exacerbated by territorial clashes in the Himalayas, is a prime example of India’s inability to manage regional tensions diplomatically.
In 2025, the already tense situation between India and Pakistan was pushed to the brink of war. India conducted military strikes across Pakistan after accusing it of being involved in a false-flag operation, following attacks in Pahalgam and Pulwama. These claims were made without any solid evidence, yet India escalated the situation, threatening to take military action. This reckless approach to diplomacy puts both countries in danger, especially given their nuclear arsenals. This is not the first time India has engaged in such high-risk maneuvers, and tensions are rising again in the region, raising fears of a nuclear conflict.
Beyond Pakistan, India’s relationship with other neighboring countries has also deteriorated. Its interference in the internal affairs of smaller nations such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives reflects a pattern of overreach and regional dominance. Whether it’s India’s influence in Sri Lanka’s internal political turmoil or its strategic moves in Nepal to encircle China, India’s behavior often raises concerns about its intentions in South Asia. This pattern of regional bullying only increases instability, fueling distrust and opposition from its neighbors.
India’s Role in Supporting Terrorism in Neighboring Countries
India has also been accused of supporting terrorism in its neighboring countries, further destabilizing the region. Pakistan has repeatedly alleged that India is involved in fostering insurgencies in Balochistan and other regions, supporting separatist movements to weaken Pakistan. Despite denying these accusations, India’s covert support for certain groups in Pakistan and its interference in Balochistan, a region long contentious between Pakistan and India, continues to strain relations between the two countries.
The support for terrorism is not limited to Pakistan. Reports suggest that India has been indirectly involved in supporting dictatorial regimes, such as the one led by Haseena Wajid in Bangladesh, and backing groups that disrupt stability in other South Asian countries. This has led to accusations that India, in its quest for dominance, is willing to destabilize its neighbors by fueling conflict and instability rather than working toward diplomatic solutions.
India’s Dangerous Influence in the West: Terrorism in Canada and the U.S.
India’s influence is not limited to its immediate neighborhood; it has also extended its reach to the West, where it has engaged in acts of terrorism against its own diaspora. In Canada, the United States, and the UK, there have been incidents of targeted killings of Sikh leaders and activists. The murder of prominent Sikh leaders in Canada in recent years has strained relations between India and Canada, with accusations that the Indian government is involved in or at least complicit in such acts. In the U.S., there have been several instances of Indian-backed assassination attempts targeting those critical of the government’s policies.
The Indian government’s continued interference in the sovereign affairs of these Western nations, especially targeting minority communities such as Sikhs, has led to growing tensions and diplomatic disputes. Such actions raise concerns about India’s ability to respect international norms and the sovereignty of other nations, further casting doubt on its role as a responsible global power.
India’s Treatment of Minorities: A Nation Divided
Under Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has seen a dramatic rise in discrimination against its minorities, particularly Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Modi’s association with Hindu nationalist organizations such as the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the violence associated with groups like Bajrang Dal has led to a surge in anti-Muslim sentiment. The lynching of Muslims on the pretext of cow protection, the targeted violence against Christians, and the brutal treatment of other religious minorities in India have all become widespread under Modi’s tenure.
In India, a country with a rich history of religious and cultural diversity, the situation of minorities has never been more precarious. Muslims have faced rising threats, with government policies seen as complicit in promoting violence against them. The government’s complicity in this violence, the frequent curbing of minority rights, and the growing power of Hindu nationalist groups are creating a dangerous atmosphere for anyone who does not conform to the government’s narrow vision of Hindu nationalism.
India’s Global Ambitions: A Dangerous Path Forward?
As India rises economically, its policies seem increasingly focused on asserting power at any cost. While some may argue that India’s rise could help stabilize the region, the evidence points to the opposite: India’s increasing militarization, support for terrorism, and mistreatment of its minorities are destabilizing factors not only in South Asia but globally.
India’s aggression towards its neighbors, combined with its international meddling, especially with its diaspora, makes the world nervous about India’s future intentions. As India continues to flex its military muscles, build alliances with other authoritarian regimes, and promote an ideology of Hindu supremacy, it is becoming increasingly clear that India’s growth may come at the cost of global peace.
Conclusion: The Threat of Indian Hegemony
India’s rise as a global power has the potential to reshape the world order, but whether it will bring stability or disrupt peace remains uncertain. With its aggressive foreign policy, human rights violations, support for terrorism, and treatment of minorities, India poses a growing threat to regional and global stability. The world must take a closer look at the trajectory of India’s rise and its role in destabilizing the global order. If unchecked, India’s rise may lead to widespread chaos, violence, and conflict—a catastrophic outcome that could be avoided only through global cooperation and intervention to hold India accountable for its actions.
The global community must recognize the growing threat posed by India’s hegemonic ambitions and take action to ensure that the world does not face a future shaped by authoritarianism, violence, and unchecked power. Without a strong, united response, India’s ascent could become one of the most destabilizing forces of the 21st century.
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