Information ops, perception management have taken centre stage in modern warfare: Fmr COAS Pande

Former Army chief Manoj Pande says the nature of warfare has transformed, with information operations now playing a central role in national security due to the rise of deepfakes and misinformation.

Former Army chief Manoj Pande on Monday said the nature of warfare has undergone a major transformation with information operations, perception management and narrative building having taken centre stage in the overall national security framework.

In the chaos caused by the rise of deepfakes, bot networks, manufactured narratives, collective propaganda and digitally amplified misinformation, it becomes difficult to determine who is winning and who is losing, the former Chief of Army Staff said.

Delivering the J S Karandikar Memorial Lecture organised by Pune Union of Working Journalists on the topic 'National Security and Role of Media', General Pande (retired) asserted national security is no longer limited to dealing with external threats or tackling internal security challenges such as terrorism and insurgency.

''When we speak about a developed India, we imagine a secure, organised and stable nation. However, the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, disputed and unsettled borders, internal security concerns and several emerging forms of security challenges have made the situation far more complex,'' he said.

''The character of warfare has changed significantly, with traditional warfare now being accompanied by hybrid and non-contact warfare. Wars today are not fought only on the borders. They are also fought in the domains of information, perception management, narrative building, cyber warfare and space,'' he said.

The armed forces must remain prepared for these evolving challenges, he said.

Stressing that information operations have assumed unprecedented importance in modern warfare, Pande said military planners, earlier did not pay much attention to it.

''Today, it has taken centre stage because perception shapes international opinion. While earlier the focus was largely confined to one's own perception and that of the adversary, the emphasis has now shifted towards international response and reaction. We are witnessing this in various ongoing military conflicts across the globe,'' he said.

''We are witnessing the rise of deepfakes, bot networks, manufactured narratives, collective propaganda and digitally amplified misinformation. In such chaos, it becomes difficult to determine who is winning and who is losing,'' he pointed out.

The Army has created specialised and tailor-made structures, mechanisms and strategies to effectively implement information operations, the former COAS said, adding the this domain is no longer handled by generalists.

It has become a specialised field and the defence establishment has realised that, he said.

Referring to past and ongoing conflicts, he said the Gulf War (in the early 1990s) marked the beginning of live televised warfare, while the Russia-Ukraine conflict highlighted the growing importance of open-source intelligence, social media and narrative building.

Citing the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Gen Pande said the incident underscored the need for restraint in media reporting during sensitive operations. He added that the role of media remains equally important in the ongoing West Asia conflict.

''In my opinion, the importance of press and media in the overall national security framework is extremely high. Media should not be seen merely as an arm of the state, but as a pillar of democratic resilience. The media is a strategic asset. The media is not a mute spectator,'' Pande opined.