Debunking India’s Information Operation Matrix against Pakistan in Modern Warfare

Abstract

Warfare has changed drastically in a world of rapidly changing technology. No longer confined to a defined battlefield, war can play out in cyberspace, especially as narratives, perceptions, and flows of information become tools of influence and control.4 The key concept that encompasses this is referred to as IO, which involves organized actions taken to affect an adversary's information, information systems, and decision-making while protecting one's own Information Operation.1 IO includes a broad range of activities such as psychological operations (PSYOP), cyber warfare, electronic warfare, deception, and operations security, and aims to shape the informational environment to achieve the same strategic effect as a traditional military force without employing lethal means.5 It is very pertinent to mention that Information Operations have been used by governments throughout history; early examples include the use of propaganda in the World Wars, misinformation in Cold War psychological operations, and more recently, the use of Google and social media for Information Warfare purposes.6, 7  With the development of the digital age, the scope, speed, and reach of IO have vastly expanded. Social media, news platforms, and digital infrastructure are susceptible to weaponization by an adversary for use in manipulating the public, destabilizing governments, and denigrating enemies or competitors globally in real time. This development has fundamentally altered the character of warfare, particularly between long-standing traditional adversaries who are either nuclear powers or embroiled in geopolitical deadlock (such as Pakistan and India).⁸