Fifth Generation Warfare; Challenges for Pakistan

Outline:

Introduction

Fifth-generation warfare (a new frontier of changing battlespace) involves the spread of misinformation, propaganda, social engineering, misinformation, cyberattacks, along with emerging technologies with the help of internet, artificial intelligence and fully autonomous systems. In this warfare, countries are fighting wars of “information & perception.

Generations of warfare – A brief overview

First-Generation Warfare (lines and column wars)
Second Generation Warfare (rifles and gunpowder)
Third Generation Warfare (tanks, artilleries, and air force)
Fourth Generation Warfare (asymmetric warfare, and non-state actors)
Fifth Generation Warfare (battle of perceptions and
information)

Characteristics of fifth-generation warfare

The fifth Generation warfare begins as psychological warfare and, at a final stage, snowballs into a full-scale physical war.
Fifth-generation warfare, the technique of propaganda warfare is employed to spread anarchy, chaos, and desperation.
In fifth generation warfare, people of the target country are divided on the basis of sectarian, ethnic, and linguistic lines.
The conspiracies are hatched in order to isolate the target country in the comity of nations in fifth-generation warfare.
Fifth-generation warfare involves the indirect use of force.
Technological progression as a tool of warfare
Fifth-generation warfare is the battle of perceptions

Challenges posed by fifth-generation warfare

A- Political challenges

Democracy under continuous threat
Integrity and decency of the army under attack
Disruption of peace and political harmony among the masses
Anti-state elements at work in Baluchistan and tribal areas
Masses are mobilized on large scale against the political as well as civil administration

B- Social challenges

Psychological unrest
Theft of intellectual property rights
Almost no considerable counteractive strategy in place
Increase in crime rate
Absence of rule of law
The spread of misinformation and false agenda

C- Economic challenges

Damage to property and other infrastructure
Tax season and tax theft
Penetration into the internal economic infrastructure of the country
Use of economy as a weapon
Financial projection of power
Devaluation of currency
The campaign against CPEC and Gilgit Baltistan
Use of trade deficit or using debt as weapons of war

D- Religious challenges

Damage to religious harmony
Spread of sectarianism
Rise of insecurity among the religious minorities
Security threads due to existing religious fault lines
Propaganda against each other’s’ religious beliefs

How to respond to the challenges posed by fifth-generation warfare?

Timely redressed and proper handling of public grievances
Formation and implementation of code of conduct for media
Regulations for religious institutions as well as seminaries
State-owned supervision of Madaris
Rules and regulations for use of social media
Focus on character building and education of masses
Robust and appropriate use of diplomatic and soft powers
Promotion of political soft-power of the country
Devising the reliable and long-term economic strategies
The spread of awareness among the general public
Timely counteraction of misinformation and false propaganda
An enhanced border as well as intellectual security
Strengthening of trade ties with neighboring countries
Establishing limitations for unnecessary use of freedom of speech
Designing policies and goals to do away with poverty, unemployment, class-divide