Inside Capital: Armed forces eye swift, coordinated media strategy

As the Indian armed forces work to sharpen a new information warfare strategy, the military leadership must recognise that ‘radio silence’ — traditionally used to restrict communication on the battlefield — is a flawed approach when it comes to shaping the media narrative during conflict.

In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor (May 7–10), Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has initiated efforts to build an information warfare infrastructure. The first series of meetings to discuss its structure were held over the past two weeks.

The push stems in part from what many saw as a sluggish response when real-time narrative control was critical. For instance, on May 7, international news agencies — citing unnamed Pakistani sources — claimed that the Indian Air Force had lost several aircraft. Yet, India maintained ‘radio silence’ for four days.

This is not to suggest that India should have confirmed any losses during live combat. However, after the first engagement with Pakistan on May 7, the need for a timely counter-narrative was evident. On May 7 and 8, India’s air defence network performed exceptionally, successfully intercepting and downing multiple Pakistani missiles and drones. Despite images of Chinese-made missile debris flooding social media, the official response remained muted.

New Delhi’s first formal comment on the jet losses came only on May 11, when Director General Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti stated that “losses are part of combat”. A full rebuttal to Pakistan’s claims — that India lost six aircraft — came only a month later, when the CDS addressed the matter publicly in June.

The Indian narrative gained momentum only on May 10, when it announced having struck several Pakistani air bases. The following day, senior military officers, including the Director General of Military Operations and his counterparts from the IAF and Navy, released further details, including satellite imagery.

In the meantime, misinformation such as claims of “Karachi being bombed” or “Asim Munir being arrested” circulated widely. While not originating from the military, such rumours did little to help the situation and risked undermining credibility.

On paper, the CDS’s initiative looks fine, but his team would need to look at narrative building from multiple angles.

Subset of military operations

Information warfare — leveraging media and social media for narrative building — must be established as a subset of military operations. On May 7 at around 1.35 am, the military did issue a press note stating that it had struck terror camps in Pakistan. The first salvo was timed and delivered correctly. In modern conflicts, information warfare will have a transformative impact. The ability to control information and shape narratives will be critical in defining perceptions.

Centrality of information

Since the military operates strictly under orders, control over information must remain centralised. However, to be effective, this control must be supported by a structured system that allows for routine interaction with the media. Disinformation must be countered proactively, and on a daily basis.

Expand use of digital platforms

In modern warfare, the battle for perception is increasingly fought in the digital domain. Information travels instantly through billions of handheld smartphones. Traditional media outlets not only operate through their own apps, but also use social media platforms like X, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp to disseminate news. These same platforms, however, are equally accessible to adversaries, who use them to propagate counter-narratives and disinformation. According to a recent news agency survey, 84 per cent people in India now consume news online.

Lessons from Kargil Review Committee

The Kargil Review Committee, formed in the wake of the 1999 conflict with Pakistan, noted that the media’s role in “creating, shaping and changing perceptions” would only continue to grow. The committee recommended appointing specialised officers, properly trained and equipped, to handle information dissemination. In response, each of the three services set up dedicated media cells. Now, the CDS is planning a tri-services body to take this concept forward.

Delhi