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Operation Sindoor and the war within: How India's rivals exploit its domestic divisions

In the aftermath of a hard-won military engagement, the nation witnessed a disappointing descent into political theatrics, activation of fifth columnists and media frenzy read more Living in India is not enough; India must live in you. Satyameva Jayate — Truth alone triumphs, but only when we dare to defend it. Image: PTI As Operation Sindoor settled down, another front remained wide open and dangerously active: the war within. In the aftermath of a hard-won military engagement, the nation witnessed a disappointing descent into political theatrics, activation of fifth columnists and media frenzy. At a moment that called for dignity and responsible leadership, some political voices across the spectrum chose instead to trade accusations, indulge in hyperbole, and reduce a national crisis to a partisan petty politics spectacle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Behind the scenes of a victorious Operation Sindoor lies an invisible, insidious layer of battle narrative manipulation, digital espionage, fifth columnists, and internal enablers that threaten national unity much more than cross-border terrorism. This theatre of war is actively being manipulated by Pakistan's ISI and Chinese intelligence agencies, often via local proxies, compromised media voices, and foreign-funded NGOs/pseudo-think tanks. Media platforms, too, fell short of turning studios into war rooms, replacing journalism with jingoism, and airtime was wasted on speculative outrage and misplaced commentary. The need for trained war correspondents, credible empanelled defence analysts and responsible journalism came to the fore. Operation Sindoor: A Military Success Amid Internal Erosion Operation Sindoor, executed with professional tri-service coordination and indigenous technology, redefined the doctrine of swift, punitive retaliation against terrorism. It reinforced India's deterrence posture. However, even as the nation stood in solidarity with its soldiers, a section of media personalities, digital influencers, and political voices began questioning the operation's legitimacy, purpose, details and even timing. Some demanded 'proof' of military success, others cried 'election stunt', and some went as far as framing the airstrikes as violations of international norms—echoing the exact language used by Pakistani state propaganda and Chinese disinformation units. The resemblance was no coincidence. This was narrative warfare, designed abroad but delivered at home. Fifth Columnists and Their New Playbook In the age of hybrid war, the 'enemy within' wears no uniform. They may hold media microphones, academic tenures, NGO placards, or political positions. They weaponise free speech not to question but to delegitimise Indian national interest. What makes this group particularly dangerous is its ability to amplify enemy propaganda under the pretext of democracy. These voices are routinely picked up by ISI-controlled media outlets like Dawn, The Express Tribune, or Chinese platforms like Global Times and repackaged as 'Indian dissent'. The adversary uses these clips to claim legitimacy for their false narratives. It's a loop of disinformation with local fingerprints and global consequences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Role of ISI and China: New Age Psychological Warfare Pakistan's ISI has always relied on proxy war and radicalisation, but in recent years it has expanded its playbook to include psychological destabilisation. After every strike or counterterror operation, the ISI, often in coordination with Chinese cyber units, activates social media campaigns to plant seeds of doubt within Indian society. Their goal: fracture internal cohesion, vilify Indian forces, and aim at lowering morale. China's involvement is more calculated. It sponsors or influences NGOs, think tanks, academic collaborations, and media exchanges that appear benign but are often vectors for strategic influence. Many foreign-funded organisations operating in India have quietly pushed narratives that question India's sovereignty, advocate 'restraint' on security actions, or highlight only the 'human rights violations' of Indian agencies—never those of Pakistan or China. Such institutions don't wave enemy flags—but they often carry enemy agendas. Honey-Trapping and Digital Espionage: Silent Breaches One of the lesser-discussed dimensions of internal compromise is the honey-trapping of Indian key personnel. ISI and Chinese agents have been increasingly using fake social media profiles—mostly attractive female avatars—to befriend civilians and government officials, posing as students, researchers, or journalists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Conversations begin innocently and gradually turn emotional or romantic, eventually leading to sensitive information being extracted—base locations, movements, and codes. In several cases, individuals never realised they were speaking to enemy handlers until they were arrested or dismissed. India's adversaries are using emotional blackmail and digital seduction as warfare tools, bypassing firewalls by targeting human vulnerabilities. Media Echo Chambers and the Anti-India Spin Machine In the post-Operation Sindoor media cycle, a striking trend emerged—certain Indian media houses and influencers actively downplayed the military strike's impact while magnifying enemy propaganda. The arguments ranged from 'this will radicalise more people' to 'elections are near, hence the drama'. These statements were not random. They were perfectly aligned with talking points circulated by Pakistan's media and Chinese foreign ministry officials. When an Indian national 'questions' India's motives, it gives ISI and Chinese Communist Party propaganda a layer of legitimacy. This isn't journalism. It's information laundering, and India is paying the price for not calling it out soon enough. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Social Media Trap: Manufactured Outrage and Digital Sabotage Social media today is a double-edged sword. While it has empowered common citizens, it has also opened the floodgates for manipulation, fake news, bot networks, and psychological conditioning. After Operation Sindoor, thousands of posts surfaced—from anonymous 'citizens' calling India a warmonger to viral images falsely claiming civilian and military casualties that never occurred. Many of these posts originated from accounts traced to Pakistan and countries beyond, often run by diaspora groups with ideological or sectarian leanings. However, what's worrying is how these posts were retweeted and quoted by Indian accounts through journalists, citizens, student leaders, and even politicians without verification. The unethical and unverified quest for post popularity and TRP is a dangerous trend. Foreign NGOs and Ideological Subversion Several foreign-funded NGOs operating under the garb of human rights have been openly critical of India's security response but are silent on the roots of terrorism. They release reports after every counter-insurgency operation but never on the killing of Indian soldiers or civilians by cross-border terror groups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is increasingly evident that some of these entities act as soft proxies for adversarial governments. They are used to create international noise, get India censured at human rights forums, or trigger 'fact-finding missions' during times of military action, especially in Kashmir or the Northeast. Eight Recommendations: What the Government Must Do India must wake up to the reality of fifth-generation warfare. The battlefield is no longer just the LOC—it's the internet, academia, TV studios, and WhatsApp groups. Here's what the government must urgently prioritise: 1. Establish a National Cognitive Warfare Structure A multi-agency task force involving the military, IB, cyber cells, and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to monitor and counter real-time narrative sabotage and digital psyops. There is a need for a National Defence Media network including TV and YouTube which must be the voice for truth. 2. Enforce Stricter Oversight on Foreign-Funded NGOs and Educational Institutions All NGOs and educational institutions receiving international funds must disclose affiliations, funding sources, and activities. Quarterly national audits should be mandated for high-sensitivity sectors like education, media, and border-state development. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 3. Launch a Military Cyber Shield Programme Educate all ranks of the military and paramilitary forces on digital grooming, honey-trapping, phishing, and fake profiles. Cyber wellness must become part of force readiness. Also, run a national-level awareness programme to prevent citizens from being innocently lured. 4. Designate Deliberate Anti-National Disinformation as a Security Offence and Bring in Legal Statute Repeated, verified instances of deliberate falsehoods that aid enemy propaganda must be brought under national security laws. This must be done with surgical precision and in time to protect genuine free speech. 5. Strengthen Citizen Digital Literacy From schools to workplaces, citizens must be trained to detect fake news, identify bot patterns, and resist emotional manipulation online. A vigilant society is the best firewall. 6. Ethical and Professional Journalism To ensure responsible conflict coverage, the media must uphold ethical journalism and avoid sensationalism. Empanelling credible defence analysts and trained war correspondents can provide informed, balanced perspectives, helping anchor public discourse in facts rather than speculation. This strengthens both national security and media integrity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 7. National Citizens Security Culture Society must be empowered by a 'National Citizen's Security Culture', as security is everyone's business. This would mitigate both the non-kinetic threats, especially disinformation, and kinetic threats by sleeper cells and anti-national elements. 8. Countering Politicised Anti-National Narratives To combat politicians who distort national security issues for partisan gain, it is vital to enforce political accountability and uphold strict parliamentary decorum. Parliamentary laws must ensure that in the name of democracy, national interest is not sacrificed at the altar of petty politics. Patriotism Is the New Counter-Weapon India must not confuse freedom of expression with the freedom to aid the enemy. Dissent is a democratic right. But when dissent echoes the objectives of ISI, People's Liberation Army, or foreign-funded propaganda networks, it becomes a weapon against the very nation that allows it. In the hybrid wars of tomorrow, the real test of patriotism will not just be on the borders—it will be in our minds, narratives, and moral clarity. Let us ensure we know which side we are on. Living in India is not enough; India must live in you. Satyameva Jayate — Truth alone triumphs, but only when we dare to defend it. The author is former Director General, Mechanised Forces. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.