- By: Dr. Muhammad Tayyab Khan Singhanvi (Ph.D)
The world today stands at a crossroads on one side, humanity has achieved remarkable success in scientific progress, modern technology, space conquest, and artificial intelligence; while on the other, it is endangering its own survival. Despite the formation of institutions like the United Nations after the two global wars of the twentieth century, aimed at ensuring global peace, it became evident within the first two decades of the twenty-first century that wars and cold wars fueled by state interests, economic dominance, ideological supremacy, and regional power rivalries are still ongoing with intensity. If this continues without permanent restraint, these existing conflicts can give rise to new ones and eventually become a precursor to a third world war.
The tension, destruction, and apparent ceasefire between Iran and Israel is a clear example. The efforts to halt Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities through sanctions and pressure, and the open support of the Western world, may once again push the Middle East into destructive conflict. The presence of Iran-backed groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthi rebels of Yemen, and the unresolved issue of Palestine, can turn the region into a global volcano. If war erupts again, powers like the United States, Russia, China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia may directly or indirectly become involved. Furthermore, if the commercial and oil-transport routes of the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Strait of Hormuz are threatened, even a slight disruption in the global energy market can lead to economic recession, inflation, and instability in global markets.
In South Asia, the long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan particularly over the Kashmir issue have transformed into a conflict where both sides possess nuclear weapons. The border skirmishes that occurred in early 2025, alleged air operations by the Indian Air Force, and Pakistan’s immediate response turned into a short-term but dangerous war. Although the fire appeared to be extinguished through the intervention of the United States, China, and Saudi Arabia, the embers still smolder. The popularity of nationalist governments and war rhetoric in both countries has made the environment more toxic. Any unintended military intrusion or terrorist incident could result in a large-scale war.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022, is still ongoing in full force in 2025. Russia’s continued occupation of eastern Ukrainian regions and the provision of Western defense systems to Ukraine have given rise to a proxy war in which NATO, the European Union, and the United States are indirectly involved. This war has not only endangered European security but has also aligned Russia with opposing global blocs like China, Iran, and North Korea. Western sanctions, energy shortages, inflation in Europe, and Russian nuclear threats indicate that this conflict will not remain limited it could at any moment escalate into a large-scale global war.
On the other hand, the issue of Taiwan between the United States and China continues to deteriorate. China claims Taiwan as its “broken-off part,” while Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state. Military and political support from the United States, Japan, and Australia to Taiwan has enraged China. Increased naval activity in the South China Sea, aerial maneuvers by both powers, and cyber-attacks have brought the region to the brink of a major war. This war will not be limited to China and the United States it will engulf the entire Pacific region. Additionally, it will inflict such damage on the global supply chain, microchip industry, shipping, and technology sectors that recovery may not be possible for decades.
In addition to this, new war technologies have entirely changed the nature of conflicts. Wars are no longer fought with gunpowder alone but also through cyber-attacks, artificial intelligence, drones, autonomous weapons, and satellite-destroying missiles placed in space. The presence of AI-based decision-making systems can trigger wars without human intervention, as robotic systems may launch retaliatory strikes within a moment due to rapidly changing circumstances. For this reason, global experts have already declared “automated warfare” a major threat.
Environmental changes can also lead to global war. Water scarcity, food shortages, and extreme weather are displacing millions of people in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. The migration of environmental refugees, poverty, unemployment, and border disputes can push states toward internal civil wars. Especially, efforts to politically control rivers like the Indus, Nile, Tigris and Euphrates, and Yangtze can give rise to regional wars. If these issues are not resolved at the global level, these conflicts can prove to be more devastating than nuclear wars.
Institutions like the United Nations, the European Union, the Arab League, and the OIC appear to be completely failing in preventing these conflicts in their current state. The political influence of major powers and the presence of veto power in these institutions have weakened the concept of global justice. When powerful nations make unilateral decisions in their own interest, smaller countries are suppressed, and weaker nations are exploited, then this imbalance results in a massive explosion.
In the economic field as well, global powers are engaged in a cold war against each other. China’s “Belt and Road” policy, the United States’ economic sanctions, Russia’s use of energy as a weapon, and Europe’s attempts at industrial independence are creating clashes in the economic arena. This trade war can turn into a real war at any time.
In this entire context, if immediate, serious, and balanced actions are not taken, the world could be moving toward a new, more dangerous, and more destructive war. The nature of this war will not only be military but will be a complete environmental, economic, technological, and ideological war in which most countries of the world will be affected. Nuclear weapons, cyber disasters, attacks in space, deadly viruses, food shortages, endless waves of refugees, and state collapse are scenarios that will become the darkest era in human history.
Now is the time for the global community to take these threats seriously. Rising above self-interest, steps must be taken toward collective security. International laws should be made effective, the United Nations should be made an impartial and effective institution, global powers should reduce military budgets and spend on human development, a code of conduct should be established for technology, and region-wise dialogue processes should be initiated so that the world can be saved from potential global destruction.
This is the path that is essential for the survival, development, and future of humankind.