Mann Ki Baat by Enemies of the State: Strategic Communication Warfare

It seems that on the battlefield that the internet is, India ‘lost’ the ‘war’. The Indian approach towards strategic communication needs to change and it needs to change now. 

Warfare has changed, the battlefield has shifted to your pockets. Vietnam War (1955–1975) is widely recognised as the first televised war where footage from the war reached the living room of ordinary Americans overnight, in the 21st century it reaches in your pocket within seconds. If the 20th century brought the wars to living rooms in the form of official news via broadcasts, the 21st century has transformed even washrooms into war rooms with platforms such as X and Instagram providing a constant barrage of unverified ‘news’ masquerading as official broadcast. Although some say that ‘silence is best’ in diplomatic circles, in this era of deepfakes and AI (Web 3.0), silence is no longer a shield - it’s a target. Strategic communication needs to move from the fringes of military doctrine to the forefront. 

In the initial few hours post the commencement of Operation Sindoor on 7th of May, the internet was filled with misinformation by (Pakistan) sponsored fake accounts. By 10th of May, these fake accounts had convinced the world that India had lost the war with 6 of India’s jets downed by the Pakistani’s with even the Pakistani PM amplifying these lies. The truth was that India achieved complete air dominance due superior military doctrines and equipment as later verified by major military analysts. We managed to inflict significant damage to various Pakistani military establishments. But it seems that on the battlefield that the internet is, India ‘lost’ the ‘war’. Increasingly, a trend has emerged where asymmetry in military and economic power is being countered through increasing investments in enhancing the capabilities of controlling the ‘narrative’. Domestically it earns them stability, internationally it earns them praise and militarily it wins them a virtual war for cents on the dollar. 

A comparative analysis conducted by the OSINT team of India Today reveals the pitfalls in India’s approach towards strategic communication. USA’s Operation Epic Fury provides us with a stark contrast to Operation Sindoor. Over the initial five days of the conflicts, the communication output from the USA significantly overshadowed India's. The USA released 18 press releases and 38 social media posts, along with hosting 11 press conferences and participating in 9 interviews. In contrast, India's public response comprised 9 press releases, 18 social media posts, and 8 press conferences, notably holding no interviews. The frequency of official briefings (including all official communications) averaged 15.2 for the USA with India lagging behind at 6.8. The result is worrying - while a majority of the international and national audience is still pondering over the details of Operation Sindoor, the Americans have already initiated an inquiry into what kind of lapses in their doctrine led to a school with 300 children being targeted. The Iranians have not been able to claim victory and the audience

knows well to not rely on unofficial sources as the frequency of official sources provides them with sufficient information. 

The Indian approach towards strategic communication needs to change and it needs to change now. The source of information on the American operation ranges from their President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War to the CENTCOM. They have been upfront, frank and direct in their approach. In the age of permanent crises, the tri-services along with all relevant stakeholders such as the MEA, the PMO, the NSA need to devise a communication strategy with clear goals. The primary source for information relating to warfare and achieving military objectives should be the tri-services. The loss of personnel and machines, if any, should also be communicated clearly. The external manifestations or the information related to the management of international relations with other countries as well as handholding of the foreign press should be done by the MEA. The PMO should constantly keep the country in the loop catering to both national and international audiences. His strong voice and authority as the leader of all Indians should act as the voice of political stability and hope in the treacherous sea of misinformation. Indians need our PM’s Mann Ki Baat during such tumultuous times the most - direct and unfiltered.