The War of Perception: Why India Needs to Transform into a Nation of Active Info Warriors

The Operation Sindoor was a pivotal moment in India’s history, marking a successful precision strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). However, the response from Pakistan was not on the battlefield, but rather online, with the launch of Operation Hafwaian (Rumours), a narrative war aimed at distorting the truth and misleading the public.

Within hours, a digital deluge flooded social media with AI-generated and manipulated images, videos, and narratives, painting a falsified picture of Pakistan’s military superiority and Indian humiliation. This was not random chatter, but a calculated and coordinated information warfare campaign launched by the Pakistani establishment to distort the truth and derail India’s strategic messaging.

The Fog of Disinformation: Anatomy of a Lie

Let’s examine what unfolded. A viral image claimed the Pakistan Army had shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet near Bahawalpur. The truth? It was an old image from a MiG-21 crash in Moga, Punjab, in 2021—completely unrelated to any current operations. PIB Fact Check had to step in and clarify.

Then came a video asserting that the Indian Army had surrendered at Chora Post in Kashmir, allegedly raising a white flag. This video was a complete fabrication, amplified shamelessly by Pakistan’s federal minister Attaullah Tarar, who failed to provide a shred of evidence.

Another widely circulated video claimed that the Pakistan Air Force had bombed the Srinagar airbase. That too was false. The footage was traced back to sectarian clashes in Pakistan’s own Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region in early 2024. It had nothing to do with Kashmir, or with any airstrike.

Cyberwarfare—It’s Here and It’s Real

The era of fifth-generation warfare is cognitive warfare targeting the most vulnerable mind space. It is fought on narratives tuning the notion of victory. It is not fought with missiles and drones but with Trojans, and minds are influenced not with speeches, but with manipulated media. From jamming satellites to hacking critical infrastructure, to weaponising social media platforms, the battlefront is everywhere and nowhere.

India, with its 800 million internet users and a growing digital economy, is a prime target for cyber threats—state-sponsored or otherwise. Yet, public awareness remains alarmingly low. We react to a cyber breach like a natural disaster—after it happens—rather than preparing for it as a recurring national security challenge.

Nation Needs a Firewall in Minds

The Indian Army has responded with dignity and precision to provocations. Our intelligence agencies are alert and active. Our cyber command is evolving. But this fight cannot be won by institutions alone. The battleground is the public psyche, and the soldier in this war is the common citizen.

This is why we must launch a nationwide Digital Defence Campaign—not as an optional initiative, but as a strategic necessity. Every Indian must be trained in basic cyber hygiene and information literacy. Every responsible citizen must identify misinformation and deepfakes, knowing how to verify sources, cross-check facts, and avoid being manipulated by emotion-driven content.

What Can Citizens Do Today?

You don’t need a government order to be vigilant. Here’s what every Indian can do starting now: Pause before sharing. Ask: Is it true? Is it verified? Does it serve a purpose or spread fear? Report fake news to the platforms and fact-checking agencies like PIB Fact Check or Boom Live. Talk to your children and elders about misinformation. Often, the most vulnerable are the most targeted. Install reputable cybersecurity software on your devices and learn basic digital safety. Support and demand cyber education in your schools and communities.

From Passive Users to Active Info Warriors

Our soldiers on the frontlines deserve a citizenry that doesn’t fall for enemy propaganda. Our democracy deserves a digital public that can think critically. Our children deserve an internet that is not a battlefield of lies. India must transform from a nation of passive consumers of information into a nation of active info warriors.

Just as Swachh Bharat was about cleaning our streets, this is about cleaning our digital corridors. Just as we take pride in the tricolour flying high on Republic Day, we must take pride in defending it in the information war, byte by byte, truth by truth.

We cannot outsource patriotism. We cannot outsource digital responsibility. This is your internet. This is your country. Defend both. India’s security no longer ends at the border—it begins at your screen.

(The author is a Lt. General (Retired); Views expressed are personal)

Published On May 9, 2025 at 09:21 AM IST

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