How Is India-Pakistan Information Warfare Unfolding?
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As tensions escalate between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 innocent tourists last week, the arch-foes have engaged in information warfare of a kind never seen before in South Asia.
India and Pakistan are increasingly locked in an information war, where social media is used as a weapon to shape public opinion using distorted facts, and after the Pahalgam attack, both sides are pushing narratives to gain a psychological advantage, experts have said.
For instance, if Pakistani social media channels claimed the downing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale aircraft, Indian handles on X on Wednesday began circulating misinformation about a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 being shot down by India's sky guarding force.
Misinformation has also been spread about Army officers being removed or sacked, and about the movements of the armed forces.
For instance, if Pakistani social media channels claimed the downing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale aircraft, Indian handles on X on Wednesday began circulating misinformation about a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) F-16 being shot down by India's sky guarding force.
Misinformation has also been spread about Army officers being removed or sacked, and about the movements of the armed forces.
Amid Pakistan Army chief, General Syed Asim Munir's disappearance from the public eye, X was abuzz with speculation about his whereabouts. As he went MIA (missing in action), the hashtag #MunirOut gained traction on the platform.
"India's narrative is largely focused on bringing the perpetrators to justice, pointing towards Pakistan. Pakistan, on the other hand, denies involvement and threatens retaliation if India takes action. This strategy is aimed at rallying domestic support," Namita Barthwal, Research Analyst, at India's premier military think tank, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), told Sputnik India.
Moreover, Pakistan has been making startling claims ever since India announced a raft of punitive diplomatic measures, which is very "likely part of Pakistan's broader propaganda machinery", she added.
The timing and tone of such dramatic announcements—like a 2 AM press conference claiming imminent Indian military action—suggest an attempt to control the narrative, stir domestic sentiment, and pre-emptively portray Pakistan as a victim, the strategic affairs commentator suggested.
The timing and tone of such dramatic announcements—like a 2 AM press conference claiming imminent Indian military action—suggest an attempt to control the narrative, stir domestic sentiment, and pre-emptively portray Pakistan as a victim, the strategic affairs commentator suggested.
"This fits within classic information warfare and psychological operations (PSYOPS), where exaggeration, fear-mongering, and disinformation are used to influence public opinion and international perception," Barthwal stated.
The main premise behind the dissemination of disinformation from both sides is to create ambiguous conditions, the fog of war, Sidhant Hira, a Research Associate at the New Delhi-based geopolitical research organisation, NatStrat, said. It is also important to develop one's own narrative and gain a first-mover advantage, and if the enemy moves first, be prepared with counter-narratives, he told Sputnik India.
Another important reason is to gain the support of your own population and prepare it for a robust response, in this case, for India, a kinetic (military) response, the expert highlighted.
The public plays an important role when it comes to political leadership taking such a decision, as does the media in shaping public opinion in support of the government, the think tanker observed.
Another important reason is to gain the support of your own population and prepare it for a robust response, in this case, for India, a kinetic (military) response, the expert highlighted.
The public plays an important role when it comes to political leadership taking such a decision, as does the media in shaping public opinion in support of the government, the think tanker observed.
"In that context, Pakistan's brazen statements are definitely part of its propaganda campaign, especially when its top leadership continues to whip up anti-India frenzy. Possibly, Pakistan is not doing as well as it hoped in gaining international support for itself and against India, so the Information Minister is putting a very short timeframe for Indian military action," Hira concluded.
