The year 2024 has been marked by significant events across the globe, shaping political, economic and social landscapes, with particular importance for Pakistan. In Pakistan, the general election held on February 8, was one of the most contentious moments. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, continued to dominate the political scene despite his being consigned to the prison since August 2023.

The legitimacy of the election’s results has been questioned, with allegations of vote manipulation and concerns about media suppression in a backdrop of legal challenges. The PTI’s refusal to accept the results has significant implications for political stability.

In the economic sphere, too, many of the challenges continued. Inflation was high, although it started climbing down. Unemployment was high and sensitive dependence on external debt continued. Efforts to stabilise the economy through loans and IMF-mandate financial reforms were central to the government’s agenda. Recovery remained slow and uncertain. Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change was starkly highlighted. Political violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continued unabated, adding to the instability of the region.

Globally, the year witnessed several pivotal political events. In the United States, Donald Trump made a remarkable comeback, securing re-election as president. His victory has profound implications for international diplomacy, particularly in areas such as US-China relations, NATO and climate change mitigation. Trump’s return to office has shifted global alliances and economic strategies, raising questions about the future direction of US foreign policy and trade relations.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict continued to wreak havoc, creating a global security crisis. The war, which began in 2022, went on in 2024, further deepening the humanitarian and economic toll across Europe and beyond. It disrupted energy markets, caused global food shortages and stoked geopolitical tensions, especially between Russia on one hand and the EU and NATO on the other. The conflict also drew in countries from around the world.

The China-Taiwan tensions also remained a critical global concern in 2024, as Beijing’s aggressive posture towards Taiwan escalated. Diplomatic confrontations, military drills and growing military pressure from China kept the Indo-Pacific region on edge. This has wide implications for global trade, security and the geopolitical balance. Taiwan, a crucial semiconductor hub, continued to be at the centre of these disputes, with economic and strategic ramifications for the global market.

One of the most dramatic developments in the Middle East was the fall of Bashar al-Assad. After years of unrest and mounting military pressure, Assad was forced to flee Syria and seek refuge in Moscow. This marked a pivotal moment in Syrian politics, signalling the potential end of his rule. The coup also raised questions about Russia’s role in the region and the future of Syria, which has been embroiled in a civil war for over a decade. The collapse of Assad’s regime also created an opening for possible political reform, although the challenges to Syria’s recovery remain immense.

In India, Narendra Modi won a historic third term as prime minister, further solidifying his grip on the nation’s political landscape and reinforcing his prominent role in South Asia. Modi’s victory is a testament to his enduring popularity, bolstered by his strong political base that transcends regional divides and continues to dominate Indian politics. However, his leadership is under increasing scrutiny, particularly regarding his handling of religious polarisation, economic inequality and allegations of human rights abuses.

Critics argue that under Modi’s rule, the country has seen a rise in religious intolerance, with India’s Muslim minority, in particular, facing growing challenges. The Bharatiya Janata Party, under Modi’s direction, has been accused of pursuing policies that marginalise Indian Muslims, resulting in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

Despite these criticisms, Modi’s re-election marked a pivotal moment not just for India, but also for the broader South Asian region. His continued leadership will likely bring no relief to Indian Muslims, with the BJP maintaining a singular agenda of consolidating Hindu nationalism at the expense of religious minorities. For the international community, Modi’s re-election sends a signal of political stability in India, but also raises serious concerns about the trajectory of secularism and pluralism in a nation that has long prided itself on its diversity.

The implications of Modi’s third term are particularly significant for India’s relationship with Pakistan, its nuclear-armed neighbour to the north. The two countries remain locked in a long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir, a region that has been the source of numerous conflicts and military standoffs. Modi’s tenure has been marked by heightened tensions with Pakistan, particularly on account of the BJP’s hard-line stance on issues related to Kashmir and cross-border terrorism.

With the Kashmir conflict unresolved and sporadic clashes continuing along the Line of Control, Modi’s re-election is likely to exacerbate regional instability and complicate any prospects for peace between the two nations. The nuclear capabilities of both countries add a dangerous dimension to their rivalry, raising fears that an escalation could have dire consequences for the entire region.

As Modi embarks on his third term, India’s domestic challenges—ranging from social cohesion to economic reform—will continue to intersect with its foreign policy priorities. His leadership will be closely scrutinised both in India and beyond, as the international community watches closely to see how he navigates the growing pressures of governance, regional diplomacy and the legacy of his polarising leadership.

Throughout the year, climate change and its impact were felt worldwide. Extreme weather events, including wildfires in Australia and Canada, flooding in South Asia and hurricanes in the Caribbean, underscored the urgent need for global climate action. Governments worldwide faced increasing pressure to implement stronger measures to curb carbon emissions, mitigate environmental damage and prepare for future disasters.

The COP summit was a critical moment in this ongoing global climate conversation. Nations made pledges to transition to renewable energy, enhance climate finance and address the impacts of loss and damage caused by climate events. However, the summit also revealed the challenges in reaching consensus on the most ambitious targets to combat climate change.

In the realm of technological progress, the year 2024 witnessed significant milestones that signalled a future filled with possibilities for both space exploration and the advancement of artificial intelligence and automation. The push for human exploration beyond Earth has reached new heights, with NASA’s Artemis programme making strides towards taking more humans to the Moon for lunar exploration.

After decades of dormancy, the Artemis mission aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, paving the way for further exploration of deep space. The programme, which includes sending the first woman and the first person of colour to the lunar surface, symbolises not just a technological achievement but also a major step towards inclusivity in space exploration. Artemis is also seen as a key stepping stone to more ambitious goals, including missions to Mars and beyond.

The private sector is playing a pivotal role in reshaping the future of space exploration. Companies like SpaceX, led by entrepreneur Elon Musk, are actively advancing plans for Mars exploration. SpaceX’s development of reusable rocket technology, including the Starship programme, has revolutionised space travel by significantly reducing the cost of launching payloads into space.

SpaceX’s efforts are also revolutionizing satellite deployment with their Starlink network, which aims to provide high-speed internet across the globe, particularly in underserved regions. These private-sector advancements have accelerated the pace of space exploration.

Increasing collaboration between governmental agencies like the NASA and private companies underscores a new era in space exploration, where public and private sectors play complementary roles in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and automation technologies has been reshaping industries across the globe. AI, with its ability to analyse vast amounts of data and automate complex tasks, has found applications in a wide range of sectors, from healthcare to finance, logistics and even entertainment. In healthcare, for instance, AI-powered diagnostic tools are enabling faster and more accurate disease detection, transforming patient care and treatment plans.

AI algorithms are being employed in drug discovery, predictive healthcare and personalised medicine, offering the potential to greatly improve global health outcomes. In other sectors, automation has been streamlining manufacturing processes, reducing production costs and increasing efficiency. AI applications in robotics, autonomous vehicles and smart cities hold the potential to drastically change how we live and work.

However, these advancements are not without ethical and societal implications. Increasing reliance on automation and AI raises significant concerns about job displacement. As machines become capable of performing tasks that once required human labour, there is a growing fear that entire industries and job categories could become obsolete.

The challenge of reskilling workers and ensuring that displaced employees find new opportunities has become a focal point for governments and businesses alike. In addition, the integration of AI into daily life raises concerns about privacy, surveillance and ethical use of technology. The ability of AI systems to collect and analyse personal data has sparked debates about data security, individual rights and the potential for misuse.

The question of AI’s impact on decision-making, from judicial systems to hiring practices, has sparked discussions about fairness, bias and transparency. As AI systems are trained on data that may reflect existing societal biases, there is growing concern that these biases could be perpetuated, deepening inequalities in various spheres of life. Addressing these ethical concerns will be a crucial part of the ongoing discourse surrounding AI and automation, as policymakers and technology leaders strive to create a framework that ensures these technologies serve the public good.

Overall, 2024 has marked a period of profound technological growth, with significant strides made in both space exploration and AI development. The future of space exploration looks increasingly promising, with both governmental and private sector initiatives taking bold steps towards interplanetary travel and sustainable space exploration.

AI and automation technologies continue to redefine industries, offering new opportunities for growth and innovation, but also raising important questions about the future of work, privacy and ethics. The path forward will require careful navigation of these challenges, ensuring that technological progress leads to positive outcomes for society as a whole.

The year also saw major sporting events that brought the world together. The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics became a symbol of recovery from the pandemic, as athletes from all over the world competed in various disciplines. For Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem won the first gold medal in javelin throw, making him into a new sensation in the realm of sport.

The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, held in the West Indies and the United States, was another highlight, with Pakistan participating amidst hopes for success. The tournament not only showcased the growing influence of cricket in non-traditional regions but also revealed the sport’s global appeal. Unfortunately, Pakistan did not do well.

2024 was a year of rebuilding, especially in terms of healthcare systems and economies. The global health crisis, though largely under control, has left a legacy of ongoing challenges, including mental health issues and long-term healthcare needs. Certain regions, particularly in Africa and Asia, faced additional health crises, with outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, cholera, and dengue fever continuing to strain healthcare systems and resources.

In the Middle East, efforts to mediate peace, particularly in the Israel-Palestine conflict, persisted throughout the year. The region remains volatile, with regular flare-ups of violence. Diplomatic successes were few and far between. The hope for a lasting peace continued to be elusive.

Palestinians in Gaza continued to endure a killing spree at the hands of Israelis. The conflict has spilled over into Lebanon.

Tensions in South Asia remained high, particularly between India and Pakistan. Unresolved territorial disputes and military posturing continue to pose risks to regional security.

Looking back, 2024 has been a year of political turbulence, climate challenges and technological progress. From shifting political landscapes in Pakistan, India, Syria and the United States to the mounting urgency of addressing climate change, this year has shaped the course of both national and international affairs.

As the world continues to face collective challenges, the events of 2024 have underscored the importance of global cooperation, resilience and adaptation to new realities. In Pakistan, the year will be remembered also for the 26th Amendment to the constitution and protest marches to Islamabad.

The writer is a professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts at the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore.