Anam Sheikh |
Hybrid warfare is a form of fourth generation warfare that is more decentralized, fluid and asymmetrical in its nature. One can say that hybrid warfare is a supreme tactic that is designed to target adversary’s opportunity of growth without waging a real war.
Sun Tzu once said that “supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting”. Hybrid warfare is all about engaging the enemy in all types of warfare from all the fronts simultaneously. The threats are multiple ranging from conventional, non-conventional and irregular. Hybrid warfare is a form of fourth generation warfare that is more decentralized, fluid and asymmetrical in its nature. One can say that hybrid warfare is a supreme tactic that is designed to target adversary’s opportunity of growth without waging a real war.
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India along with the USA will contain the rise of China by sabotaging OBOR project. In order to fulfill its goals, India is using all of the available options ranging from non-state actors to ethnic conflicts and information war. India is targeting our leadership, system essentials, infrastructure, population and fielded military to cripple this nation and convert it into another satellite state like Nepal. For this, India has employed a number of strategies.
The objectives of India hybrid warfare are to destabilize Pakistan by hitting hard on its development projects. This will weaken Pakistan’s position on the international front and resultantly Pakistan has to submit herself to India’s hegemony. By doing this India will achieve two objectives: CPEC will become a fruitless project and Pakistan and China’s bond will become feeble. Consequently, India along with the USA will contain the rise of China by sabotaging OBOR project. In order to fulfill its goals, India is using all of the available options ranging from non-state actors to ethnic conflicts and information war. India is targeting our leadership, system essentials, infrastructure, population and fielded military to cripple this nation and convert it into another satellite state like Nepal. For this, India has employed a number of strategies. Let’s have a look at some of them.
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The Ethnic conflicts
A color revolution is a major part of hybrid warfare. Its aim is to seize power and to overthrow a state’s leadership. In Pakistan, Baluchistan is the main target of Modi-Doval doctrine. New Delhi is exploiting the already fragile situation for its advantage. The underprivileged Baloch youth is being brain washed for their own malicious agenda. This, in turn, is giving rise to ethnic conflicts.
The Indian presence in Afghanistan is also giving India an opportunity to execute its heinous agenda to destabilize Pakistan and create a perforation between the two Muslim countries. Moreover, the situation in Sindh is also deplorable.
The ethno-fascists BLA, BLF etc terrorists are mercilessly killing Sindhis, Punjabis, and Pathans. The Indian presence in Afghanistan is also giving India an opportunity to execute its heinous agenda to destabilize Pakistan and create a perforation between the two Muslim countries. Moreover, the situation in Sindh is also deplorable. The sharp divide between migrants and local Sindhis had fueled unprecedented crisis in the past. The funding of RAW to a political party in Sindh is no more a secret.
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The Sectarian Divide
After Iran, Pakistan has the largest number of Shia population. The recent attack in Parachinar and resultant strife over the killings clearly exhibit that an outside hand is using its proxy to push Pakistan into sectarian crisis. The Sunni-Shia divide is the best strategy to divide and rule. In one way or another, hybrid warfare is a managed chaos to push our harmony into the doldrums. The sectarian card will also benefit Iran as it has strong ties with India.
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International Isolation
One of the main points of Modi-Doval doctrine is to isolate Pakistan on the diplomatic front by maligning her Image. To quote the truth, India is using every possible mean to tarnish our soft power. The recent meeting between Modi and Trump and declaring Sayeed Salahuddin as a terrorist is nothing but an attempt to weaken Pakistan’s case on Kashmir.
The Indian lobbyists in Washington are more active to propagate a negative view of Pakistan which is creating a rift between US and Pakistan.
India has accused Pakistan multiple times for sponsoring terrorism. On the other hand, India is unleashing unprecedented brutalities in Indian occupied Kashmir. In addition, the Indian lobbyists in Washington are more active to propagate a negative view of Pakistan which is creating a rift between US and Pakistan.
The pseudo-liberals and Hybrid war
Pseudo- liberalism is hitting hard on our identity as a Muslim nation. Now, a majority of the section in our society is living under the umbrella of falsely constructed ideologies that have nothing to do with Islam.
Another insidious threat to our nation comes from extremism. On one extreme we have Islamophobia and on another we have pseudo-liberals. Together these two are creating a sharp divide in our society. Pseudo- liberalism is hitting hard on our identity as a Muslim nation. Now, a majority of the section in our society is living under the umbrella of falsely constructed ideologies that have nothing to do with Islam.
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Here, the second target of hybrid warfare is the individual. And in order to crush individual, falsely engineered narratives are playing a major role by hiding under the cover of post-truth era. Here Wilson Lind said that “psychological operation may become the dominant operational and strategic weapon in the form of media intervention.”
It encompasses all the areas of our life from mega projects to education and narrative building. Andrew Korkybo opines that the objective of the hybrid warfare is to weaken the satellite countries along the economic corridor.
To wrap it all, hybrid warfare is designed to target the development of the enemy. Development is not restricted to infrastructure only. It encompasses all the areas of our life from mega projects to education and narrative building. Andrew Korkybo opines that the objective of the hybrid warfare is to weaken the satellite countries along the economic corridor. There is a dire need of narrative building by our scholars besides the military operation. We have to unite to protect our ideological, economic and diplomatic interests. Sun Tzu’s opinion would be very befitting to quote here that ‘if you know yourself and the enemy, you shouldn’t be afraid of the 100 battles’.
Anam Sheikh attained her Bachelor’s degree in Electronics from Center of Advanced Studies in Physics, GCU, Lahore. She aspires to serve in Foreign Service of Pakistan with a vision to enhance the soft image of this country all across the world.The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.