A CRITICAL EXAMINE OF HYBRID WARFARE BY INDIA: A CASE OF THREATS AND COMPLEXITIES TO PAKISTAN

Abstract

Hybrid war is an evolving concept in the sphere of global war and conflict studies. It suggests the usage of non-conventional approaches of warfare as part of multidisciplinary war-fighting method, in order to interrupt and restrict the enemy’s action without evolving in to the direct hostilities. While the notion is fairly innovative and only acknowledged since 2007 in the military literature. Pakistan has facing threats to its existence since its creation. While lot of proven external political interventions which are well acknowledged in history books, but what remains suppressed is a massive network of efforts to undermine Pakistan's entity is nothing except of a well-accomplished "Hybrid War". Pakistan is also included in those countries which are threatened with the threats of hybrid war from its opponents, particularly India. The predominant religious radicalization, ethno-nationalistic concerns, socio-economic issues and political uncertainty are aggregating the vulnerability of Pakistan against hybrid threats. The external and internal opponents are utilizing the societal faultiness to create complications for Pakistan at multiple fronts. Numerous tools of Hybrid Warfare are engaged to achieve multiple goals ranging from political unrest and to build anti-Pakistan narratives at international fronts. The study seeks to categorize the fault lines and vulnerabilities of Pakistan which are utilizing by the adversaries of Pakistan as a free play area to initiate hybrid war against Pakistan. Its significance lies in the fact that this warfare tarnishes the social fabric of a state and has the potential to render long-term damage if not countered effectively. Methodologically, the study utilizes descriptive techniques upon existing literature on hybrid warfare threats to Pakistan whereas the approach will be explanatory to elaborate and explain hybrid threat evolving as a concrete challenge to Pakistan. So, there is a vital need for Pakistan to recognize and determine the multi-dimensional hybrid warfare threat as imposed by its adversaries. There is a clear cut need to design an approach or policy to overcome the societal issues or internal faultiness of Pakistan, which the opponents are utilizing to initiate a hybrid war against Pakistan.