M Rashid Tabassum
War no longer begins with tanks crossing borders or fighter jets entering the sky. In today’s world, the first strike often appears on television screens, social media feeds, and mobile notifications. Before missiles are fired, narratives are set in motion. Before troops advance, public perception is carefully shaped. This is the new reality of modern warfare: weapons matter, but narrative often matters more.
The Pakistan-India military confrontation in May 2025, particularly during Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, made this reality impossible to ignore. The conflict was not fought only through air strikes, defense systems, and military movement. It was fought just as aggressively through headlines, hashtags, breaking news alerts, viral videos, and psychological messaging.
During Operation Bunyan Marsoos, India reportedly sustained notable military and economic losses. At least five Indian Air Force aircraft—including Rafale jets—were said to have been downed. In addition, several military installations, including brigade headquarters, border outposts, missile systems and logistics hubs, were reportedly damaged, impacting operational capacity and denting troops morale. The financial impact was also immediate. Investor confidence weakened, markets showed sharp volatility, and diplomatic circles quickly began pressing for de-escalation. But these physical losses were only one side of the picture.
The bigger battle was unfolding elsewhere—in the information space.
Modern warfare is no longer decided by firepower alone. It now depends equally on communication, speed, perception, and the ability to control credibility. A missile can hit a target, but a narrative can hit millions of minds within minutes. In many cases, public opinion now moves faster than military facts.
This was clearly visible during the crisis. Several Indian tv channels and digital platforms began pushing dramatic claims that often sounded more like war fiction than verified reporting. On the night of May 9, stories of a “military coup in Pakistan” and a “collapse of government control in Islamabad” spread rapidly across tv tickers and online posts. Other claims suggested that Pakistan’s defense chain had broken down and Indian forces had made deep advances.
For several hours, these reports dominated screens and social media conversations despite the absence of solid evidence. Rumor was presented as breaking news, and speculation was sold as fact. In the race for attention, verification disappeared.
The confusion did not stop at television studios. Social media turned into a battlefield of its own. Old videos from unrelated conflicts, gaming footage, edited explosions, fake government notifications, and manufactured international headlines began circulating as real-time war updates. Many users shared them without checking. The purpose was simple: create panic, confusion, and a sense of psychological superiority.
This is how narrative warfare works today. You do not always need a military breakthrough; sometimes you only need a believable lie delivered at high speed.
But this time, the digital response created an unexpected shift.
Pakistani users did not remain silent consumers of information. A large number of journalists, researchers, digital activists, and ordinary social media users began checking claims in real time. Videos were reverse searched. Timestamps were matched. Locations were verified. Fake graphics were exposed. Deleted posts and tweets were screenshotted and recirculated.
When reports of a coup in Islamabad began circulating, videos showing routine government activity were quickly shared online. When war footage was presented as fresh, users located the original clips from older conflicts and posted side-by-side comparisons. One false claim after another began collapsing under public scrutiny.
In many cases, the most effective counter did not come from official briefings but from public ridicule. Exaggerated claims by some Indian anchors were turned into memes within hours. Predictions of rapid military advances became material for satire. This changed the emotional temperature of the information war. Fear was replaced by ridicule. Panic was replaced by public mockery. And once a propaganda claim becomes a joke, it loses much of its power.
Hashtags in Urdu and English helped this counter-message travel beyond Pakistan. Corrected facts, exposed visuals, and clipped broadcasts moved quickly across international audiences. The result was significant: misinformation no longer enjoyed a free run.
That is the central lesson from Bunyan-um-Marsoos. In earlier wars, battlefield updates shaped public perception. In modern wars, public perception often starts shaping the battlefield itself.
A false report can create panic. A viral video can shape diplomatic pressure. A trending hashtag can pressure governments. In this environment, information has become almost as influential as ammunition.
The world is entering an era where military strength alone does not guarantee advantage. States now need credible communication, fast fact-checking, and digital preparedness. Media institutions need responsibility. Citizens need caution.
In modern conflict, the side that controls the narrative often shapes the outcome. And sometimes, one unverified headline can travel farther than a missile.
The writer is a freelance journalistic based in Lahore, can be reached at [email protected]
