Title: India-Pakistan Drone Conflict: Strategic Blunders and Information Warfare
Today, we’ll discuss a crucial issue that has captured global attention — the ongoing drone warfare between India and Pakistan. This conflict, though heavily one-sided, reveals much about Pakistan’s strategic shortcomings and the rising tide of information warfare driven by propaganda.
One-Sided Drone Warfare
India has successfully carried out several drone strikes targeting locations in Pakistan. In contrast, despite deploying over 400 Turkish-made drones, Pakistan has failed to inflict any real damage on Indian territory. Their drone strikes, especially using Turkey’s Asisguard Songar drones, have been largely ineffective due to India’s robust air defence systems like the Akash Missile Defence System and the S-400.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi recently confirmed that forensic analysis of downed drones indicates Turkish origin. These light, swarm-type drones carry small weapons and weigh around 35–40 kg. However, none have managed to harm residential or military targets in India — a testament to India’s preparedness and strategic edge.
Khawaja Asif’s Bizarre Justification
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has drawn international ridicule for his recent statement. He claimed that Pakistan didn’t intercept Indian drones because doing so would have revealed the locations and capabilities of their missile defence systems. This statement sparked outrage among Pakistanis and laughter among Indians.
The claim is flawed for multiple reasons:
- India already knows the location of Pakistan’s defences — proven by targeted drone strikes.
- Modern air defence systems like the S-400 and Akash are mobile and not fixed, making the idea of “location leakage” irrelevant.
These remarks appear to be influenced by Chinese pressure, as China seeks to protect the credibility of its HQ-9 defence systems deployed in Pakistan.
China’s Propaganda Machinery in Overdrive
China is deeply involved in assisting Pakistan’s information warfare. From fake images to distorted news, Chinese state media like China Daily have pushed false narratives — such as the crash of three Indian fighter jets, backed only by outdated or recycled photographs from 2019.
The PIB Fact Check team in India has actively debunked such claims, confirming they are baseless propaganda. Even outlets like Al Jazeera and The Hindu have unknowingly propagated this misinformation, lending undue credibility to it.
Western Media and Source Credibility
Western publications, especially some American ones, have released questionable reports claiming that Chinese-made jets shot down Indian fighters. However, these reports often rely on anonymous sources and lack verifiable details. A key point here is to always “read between the lines” — many articles are written by authors based in Pakistan, raising doubts about their objectivity.
So far, there’s no official confirmation from Indian defence sources about any aircraft loss, which strongly suggests these reports are fabricated or speculative.
Pakistan’s Air Defence: A Persistent Failure
Pakistan’s air defence has consistently failed:
- It couldn’t respond to Indian strikes.
- It remained ineffective during Iran’s missile attacks.
- Even during the accidental firing of a BrahMos missile from India in 2022, Pakistan showed no interception capability.
Currently, Pakistan is expected to seek new air defence systems post-conflict, likely facing difficulties due to credibility and financial issues.
Information Warfare: India Needs to Catch Up
While India has shown military dominance, it is lagging in the information warfare domain. Pakistani authors are publishing unverified content in Western media, creating a perception war that India isn’t countering strongly enough.
China is aggressively supporting this narrative manipulation. Despite India having a strong military and diplomatic setup, the lack of proactive counter-narratives is concerning. Dr. S. Jaishankar and others in leadership need to push back more effectively on the international stage.
Khawaja Asif’s Alarming Remarks on Madrasas
Adding to the controversy, Khawaja Asif recently mentioned using madrasa students — religious school attendees — as a “second line of defence”. This shocking admission should be widely reported, especially in international media, as it reveals the extent of Pakistan’s desperation and the military’s blurred line with civilian institutions.
Conclusion: Strategic Mismatch and Propaganda Exposure
India has demonstrated technical superiority and operational efficiency in drone warfare. In contrast, Pakistan’s defence infrastructure and information strategy have been riddled with failures and bizarre justifications.
What’s more concerning is the effectiveness of their propaganda campaigns — something India must address urgently. Information warfare is real, and in today’s interconnected world, truth alone isn’t enough — it must be strategically communicated and globally defended.