I fully understand that the realists will reject not only the title but the entire argument. But, as an academic and an overly optimistic one, I must promote the idea of TFR.
In Part I of the same title, I identified only a few areas that cause stress to ordinary people worldwide. Unfortunately, there is little to no focus on ways to avoid wars; instead, every day, a new weapon system is being tested to cause maximum harm to the opponent. Each new weapon is more lethal, highly accurate, and can be launched from a greater range, thanks to advanced stealth technology. The target country would only come to know when the weapon hits the target and creates a disaster.
My number one concern was about an unthinkable nuclear exchange in any of the ongoing wars or in any future wars. Since the publication of part I, my fears about this particular aspect have grown manifold because the US has also announced that it will resume conducting nuclear tests. In the same context, the US has tested the Minuteman III ICBM (without a warhead) to test its reliability and accuracy. This signals a resumption of a renewed arms race with Russia and China and may lead to catastrophic consequences. Any malfunction or miscalculation will undoubtedly prompt a swift and decisive response from the opponents, who are equally prepared to retaliate.
The US-led alliance is well aware that there is no significant military opposition at present or in the foreseeable future.
Moreover, the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in emerging technologies across all domains -land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace -has further complicated the employment of autonomous weapons. The employment of Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) may have reduced the human presence in the skies over the battlefield, but it has also enhanced the complexities for the defenders. The exploitation of space is another area of great concern for individuals who may be targeted while flying in commercial planes.
The unnecessary wars between Unequal Military Powers (UMPs) continue without interruption. The relatively minor and militarily weak states have no chance against the might of the global powers, which continue to deny Sun Tzu’s precepts of winning a war without fighting, contradicting my argument that wars can be won by other means.
Unfortunately, the global leaders take wars as the most profitable business in the era of unipolarity. The US-led alliance is well aware that there is no significant military opposition at present or in the foreseeable future. Therefore, they select the target, time, and methodology to destroy the UMPs systematically. Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria, and Gaza are only a few examples. These countries will never be the same again. And, the psychological and emotional harm that the people of these countries have undergone since the beginning of this millennium remains irreparable.
The terror and physical impact caused by climate change are perhaps causing more harm to ordinary people, equally from developed and developing countries. Humanity has tampered so much with nature that it is taking its revenge in its own way. Unfortunately, there are no efforts to mitigate the crisis except symposia, conferences, and summits. None of the COPs’ commitments have been met, particularly by the major stakeholders who are responsible for the deteriorated climate to this level. At the core of repetition, I must reiterate that the lives of internally displaced people (IDPs) are far more miserable than they could have imagined before abandoning their destroyed homes due to natural disasters. The state’s support is most politicised and does not reach the victims despite numerous photo sessions by the official.
The ordinary people from all over the world want peace. The one that is not only without war, but also protects them from psychological, emotional, and physical harm. Unfortunately, there appears to be no apparent effort in this regard by global stakeholders, as they adhere to the Clausewitzian dictum that war is a continuation of policy by other means.
In the first part of TFS, I identified only a few factors that cause terror in the hearts and minds of people, forcing them to live in potential harm in the physical, emotional, and psychological domains. In Part II, I have shown my grave concerns about the renewed efforts to test and trials of the long-range dual-use weapons, which have already started by the US, and the announcement for the resumption of nuclear tests by President Trump is expected to be responded to by Russia and China in kind. This is a dangerous trend that must be interrupted at this stage.
The writer of this article has authored four international books: Nuclear Deterrence and Conflict Management Between India and Pakistan, South Asia Needs Hybrid Peace, Understanding Sun Tzu and the Art of Hybrid War, and Diplomacy and Deterrence.”