The politics of subordination is about dominating others by whatever means. Speaking at Davos 2026, Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, admitted that international law is applied with varying rigour depending on geopolitics, and that major power-holders in reality face few limits or constraints.

The consequences have been vicious: a genocide in Palestine, the kidnapping and assassination of national leaders, economic warfare, and now an illegal war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran.

As a middle power, the upending of the rules-based order and a weakened Iran leave Pakistan vulnerable to Israeli and Indian aggression on both its western and eastern borders. “The middle powers must act together, because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.” Looking beyond the Islamabad talks, for Pakistan and the region, it is a moment to make a choice: more subordination or sovereignty with dignity?

Trump’s disruption has compelled “a powerful reset”. Some, like Canada, are bravely forging new alliances. Others, such as the former Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, fear more trouble lies ahead, with countries like Turkey in the crosshairs, which will destabilise the Muslim world and the global economy. Strong alliances are essential to safeguard against looming crises and conflict. It is a time to reassess challenges, alliances, and capabilities.

At the core of this upending is the consolidation of Pax Zionismus, the Greater Israel project. Supported by the US, EU, UK, and networked through the Abraham Accords states and India, Israel is militarily, technologically, and economically dismantling and dominating regional rivals by balkanising and occupying their territories. Israel’s “hexagon of alliances” aims to encircle key Muslim states, trade routes, and energy corridors. It extends to embracing Taliban Afghanistan and non-state Baloch separatists to destabilise Pakistan. To manage the fallout, Pakistan needs to adopt a fresh strategic vision internally, across its foreign and defence policies, and harness the will to implement it.

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