Strategic Communication and Narrative Warfare: Pakistan’s Public Diplomacy Response to Indian Hybrid Tactics

Abstract

In the evolving strategic landscape of South Asia, hybrid warfare has emerged as a dominant tool of statecraft, blurring the lines between traditional military engagement and non-kinetic instruments such as disinformation, cyber operations, and psychological influence. Within this context, India has increasingly employed a range of hybrid tactics aimed at shaping international opinion, undermining Pakistan’s global standing, and influencing internal stability. Central to this strategy is the use of narrative warfare deliberate efforts to craft, disseminate, and reinforce persuasive stories that serve strategic interests both domestically and abroad. This article examines Pakistan’s public diplomacy response to India’s hybrid operations, focusing particularly on its efforts to counter hostile narratives and project its own image through strategic communication. Utilizing a discourse-oriented analytical approach, this study draws upon official statements, media content, international reports, and case studies to explore the dynamics of this narrative contestation. The Pulwama-Balakot crisis, the revocation of Article 370, and revelations such as the EU DisinfoLab findings offer critical insights into the unfolding information battleground. The analysis reveals that while Pakistan has made notable advances in real-time media engagement and diplomatic outreach, significant challenges remain in terms of strategic coherence, media capacity, and global narrative penetration. The study concludes with policy recommendations for strengthening Pakistan’s public diplomacy architecture, including investment in institutional coordination, international scholarly engagement, and the development of long-term, values-based narrative frameworks capable of competing in a complex information environment.

Keywords: Hybrid Warfare, Strategic Communication, Narrative Conflict, Public Diplomacy, Pakistan, India, Information Operations, Media Strategy