By Salamat Khan
Tu.salamat.watan@gmail.com
We have all heard the saying that might is right. It is an old and cynical observation about how power often decides outcomes in human affairs. But if we look closely at the world around us today, we must admit that this saying no longer tells the full story. What we are witnessing now is something even more unsettling. It is not just that might is right. It is that might is right and rising. When a nation shows its strength, it does not merely get its way. It gains new respect, new friends, and a higher place in the world order. Those who follow the rules and show restraint are often ignored, while those who demonstrate their power are rewarded with attention and influence. This is the uncomfortable truth emerging in our times.We can see this clearly by looking at Pakistan and India over recent years. In 2019, after the Pulwama attack, India carried out airstrikes inside Pakistan.
When Pakistan responded and shot down an Indian plane, it had the pilot in its custody. At that moment, Pakistan chose to show responsibility and restraint. It returned the pilot within forty eight hours as a gesture of peace and chose to de-escalate the situation. Pakistan played by the rules. It showed the world that it wanted peace. But what did it get in return? Hardly any recognition. The world remained largely silent. No great diplomatic breakthrough came. Instead, months later, India revoked Kashmir special status, violating long standing international agreements. The world watched but did not act. Pakistan good behaviour had not earned it respect or protection. It had only shown that it could be pushed without much consequence.Now compare that with 2025. After the Pahalgam attack, India once again pointed the finger at Pakistan without waiting for evidence or investigation. When India launched airstrikes, Pakistan responded very differently. This time it hit back hard. It shot down advanced Indian aircraft and showed a level of military capability that surprised the world. Almost immediately, the global attitude changed. Major powers from America to China, Russia and the Gulf states all stepped forward to engage with Pakistan. Suddenly everyone wanted to talk.
Pakistan was no longer a country to be ignored. It had become a key player whose voice mattered. Its strength had not only defended its territory but had also earned it new respect and stronger diplomatic ties across the globe. Even more telling was the incident in Delhi later that same year. When a deadly explosion took place near the Red Fort, India did not rush to blame Pakistan as it had done so many times before. It held back. It thought twice. The simple reason was that it now knew what Pakistan was capable of doing if provoked. Strength had become a shield. Restraint had not been respected, but power had been taken seriously.This pattern is not limited to South Asia. In January 2026, the United States carried out a large scale military operation in Venezuela. It sent forces into another sovereign nation, captured its sitting president and flew him to America to face charges. This action violated nearly every principle of international law and the United Nations Charter. It was, in plain terms, an intrusion into another country home. Yet what was the outcome? There were words of criticism from some nations, but no real consequences.
The United States faced no sanctions, no isolation, and no meaningful penalty. Instead it positioned itself to gain access to Venezuela vast oil reserves and to shape the future of the country. It had used overwhelming power and rather than being punished, it had gained further advantage and influence. This sends a message that echoes around the world. If you are powerful enough, you can break the rules and not only escape punishment but actually benefit from it.These developments show us that the international order we have known for decades is changing. The idea that all nations are equal under international law is fading. The rules that were built to protect weaker nations are losing their force. We are entering an era where respect is not earned through fairness or diplomacy alone. It is earned through capability and the willingness to use it. This is a dangerous path. If the world accepts that power decides everything, then every nation will seek to build up its strength to protect itself. Conflicts will become more frequent and more deadly.
Smaller nations will feel increasingly vulnerable. And the risk of larger wars will grow with every passing year.We must ask ourselves where this will end. If we continue down this road, we may one day find that there are no rules left to protect anyone. The strong will dominate the weak, and justice will be defined only by those who hold the most power. This is not a future that anyone should want. The international community must reflect deeply on where we are heading. We need a world where strength is used responsibly, where nations are judged not just by what they can take but by how they treat others, and where rules exist to protect all nations equally. Until that happens, we live in a time where might is not just right. It is rising. And unless we change course, that rising power may one day consume us all.
