Pakistan is facing an increasingly complex security landscape. Because, contemporary threats are no longer confined to conventional warfare. Modern conflict is waged not only with weapons, but also with misinformation, psychological operations, and digital manipulation. This highlights the onset of what is now widely referred to as hybrid warfare, where both state and non-state actors use a blend of kinetic and non-kinetic tools to achieve strategic objectives.
One prominent exhibition of such hybrid tactics is the India-led misinformation campaign against Pakistan, aimed at shaping global opinion, discrediting Pakistan’s armed forces, and fuelling internal instability.
Multiple independent investigations—including a famous report by the Brussels-based European Union (EU) DisinfoLab—have exposed an extensive network of fake media outlets, NGOs, and think tanks that operated for over 15 years under the guise of legitimate organizations. These platforms produced and circulated anti-Pakistan content to policymakers, international institutions, and the global public. Similarly, these platforms are falsely presenting India’s narratives as independent and neutral.
Moreover, this campaign extended beyond traditional propaganda. It involved the hijacking of identities, including deceased journalists and defunct organizations, to intensify India’s geopolitical agenda while discrediting Pakistan on issues ranging from Kashmir to counterterrorism.
False claims, doctored videos, and misattributed news reports were disseminated widely, often with the intent to undermine Pakistan’s diplomatic credibility and to isolate it in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the European Union.
At the domestic level, such information warfare seeks to exploit Pakistan’s social, sectarian, and political vulnerabilities. Through digital platforms and proxy accounts, incendiary content is targeted at Pakistani audiences to sow disharmony, weaken trust in institutions, particularly the military, and promote civil unrest.
Therefore. the Pakistan Army, recognizing the gravity of this evolving threat environment, has integrated counter-disinformation measures into its broader strategic framework. This includes real-time media monitoring, fact-based counter-narratives, and coordinated engagement with civil society and media to bolster national resilience against such external psychological operations.
In this era of fifth-generation warfare, controlling the narrative is as vital as securing territory.
India’s hybrid tactics, rooted in sophisticated information operations, underscore the urgency for Pakistan to invest not only in military modernization, but also in strategic communication, digital literacy, and public awareness.
One of the most significant risks today is ideological radicalization, especially among the youth. Through online platforms, extremist groups propagate divisive ideologies that exploit political and economic grievances. In response, the military collaborates with civilian institutions to promote a shared national identity and values of tolerance, resilience, and unity.
This comprehensive approach is essential in the context of fifth-generation warfare where the enemy seeks not territorial conquest but internal collapse. Weapons in this domain include hate speech, sectarian rhetoric, cyber sabotage, and externally funded information warfare.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan’s resilience remains intact. The coherence between civil society and the armed forces is key to maintaining national stability.
The Army’s leadership in adapting to hybrid challenges demonstrates institutional agility and strategic foresight.
The defence of Pakistan today entails more than safeguarding borders, it involves protecting the minds and unity of its people. Winning this war requires collective national effort, inter-institutional coordination, and a vigilant, informed citizenry. Only by securing both its physical and cognitive frontiers can Pakistan ensure a stable, sovereign, and secure future.
