In recent days, following the incident in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir, diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India have flared once again. Although public sentiment on both sides appears deeply inflamed, the reality is that the chances of a conventional war between the two countries remain minimal. In today’s world, wars are not merely fought with guns and tanks — the greatest battlefield is now the war of narratives and diplomacy. Unfortunately, Pakistan appears weak on this front.
India’s core strategy is to keep Pakistan under continuous pressure so that its economy remains stagnant, foreign direct investment (FDI) is deterred, and political instability persists. To this end, India employs various coercive tactics, including clandestine operations, acquisition of advanced Russian weaponry, and an aggressive media propaganda campaign.
India aims to destabilize Pakistan without directly violating international laws — potentially through missile or drone strikes that don’t breach Pakistani territory outright, yet increase internal pressure. The real objective is to maintain Pakistan in a perpetual state of political and economic uncertainty. The lack of external investment, coupled with political unrest, plays right into India’s strategic goals: to isolate Pakistan globally and prevent its emergence as a stable regional actor.
Despite knowing that Pakistan has a credible deterrent capability, including nuclear weapons and sophisticated missile systems, India is unlikely to engage in open warfare. Instead, it will wage hybrid war — blending propaganda, economic coercion, and diplomatic isolation.
Pakistan must respond strategically. One key area is the Kulbhushan Jadhav case. Jadhav, a serving Indian Navy officer arrested in Pakistan, confessed to orchestrating terrorist activities on behalf of the Indian state. Rather than keeping this case buried in domestic narratives, Pakistan should internationalize it by allowing global journalists and human rights organizations access to Jadhav. This would expose India’s state-sponsored terrorism to the world — provided the effort is systematic and transparent.
Today’s war is a battle of perceptions. Sadly, compared to 2019, Pakistan’s presence in this information war has significantly weakened. India continues to push its anti-Pakistan narrative using Bollywood, its massive media conglomerates, and digital platforms. The EU DisinfoLab report clearly demonstrated how India spread fake propaganda through ghost websites, fabricated NGOs, and pseudo-journalists to damage Pakistan’s reputation globally.
Moreover, India’s actions through its intelligence agency RAW, including the alleged assassinations of Sikh leaders in Canada and elsewhere, have exposed its state-sponsored terrorism beyond South Asia. During FATF evaluations, India submitted false information, while reputable organizations like Amnesty International published damning reports on India’s human rights violations.
What can Pakistan do? First, strengthen its diplomatic offensive by taking India’s actions to platforms like the UN, OIC, Human Rights Watch, and others. Second, launch organized social media campaigns to engage youth in narrative warfare. Third, highlight the Kulbhushan Jadhav case internationally, providing media access to ground realities.Fourth, counter propaganda with facts, producing evidence-based rebuttals to India’s misinformation. Fifth, exercise caution in trade and diplomacy, using them as leverage while maintaining strategic balance.
India’s objective is not a full-scale war but to weaken Pakistan under sustained pressure. The only effective response lies not in tanks, but in narratives, media strategy, and proactive diplomacy. If Pakistan fails to rise to this challenge, it risks losing both international credibility and internal stability.
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