INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER

FIFTH GENERATION WARFARE: CHALLENGES AND ROLE

OF MEDIA IN PAKISTANI CONTEXT

35TH SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAMME

By
Eesha Imtiaz
(Information Group)

A paper submitted to the Faculty of the Information Service Academy

The paper is the end product of my own efforts, research and writing and has not, in

whole or in part, been submitted elsewhere for assessment and its contents are not plagiarized.

The paper reflects my own views and is not necessarily endorsed by the faculty or the College.

Signature: ………………….
Dated: 18th October 2018
Paper Supervised By Ms. Suriya Jamal
(DDG)

1
Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Fifth Generation Warfare in Pakistan and the Role of Media ............................................................... 4
Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Statement of Problem ................................................................................................................................. 6
Hypothesis.................................................................................................................................................... 7
Sub-Research Questions ........................................................................................................................... 7
Scope and Significance of Study ................................................................................................................ 7
Significance of Study: ............................................................................................................................... 7
Scope of Study: ......................................................................................................................................... 8
Research Method ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Research Findings ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Literature Review ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Chapter 1: Global Context: Russian Intervention in US Elections ...................................................... 15
Chapter 2: Fifth Generation Warfare in Developing Nations .............................................................. 18
Chapter 3: Pakistan’s Case ...................................................................................................................... 19
Chapter 4: How Media is Influencing Pakistan ..................................................................................... 21
Recommendations and Way Forward..................................................................................................... 26
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 30
Bibliography .............................................................................................................................................. 32
Appendix A ................................................................................................................................................. 34
Statistical Data .......................................................................................................................................... 36

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 Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to my nation, Pakistan, because it is the power of knowledge that

will help us prosper. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow

probationary officers as well as the administration and faculty at Information Service

Academy, particularly our honorable Director General Ms. Zahida Parveen and Deputy

Director General Ms. Suriya Jamal, who personally supervised this paper and enabled

this research to be conducted. I am grateful to Mr. Siddique Humayun, my secondary

supervisor and instructor at ISA, for his guidance. I would also like to express special

thanks to Mr. Hamid Husain, a U.S-based military analyst, who went to great lengths to

improve my understanding of this subject that the world is still trying to grasp. Last, but

not the least, I would like to thank the diligent staff at ISA who readily serve us with a

smile whenever we need them and go out of their way to help us.

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 “War is a moral contest; they are won in temples long before they are ever fought”

- Sun Tzu

Fifth Generation Warfare in Pakistan and the Role of Media

Preface

The study of warfare and its subsequent classification into five key generations have allowed

insight into the societal as well as academic understanding of how nations conduct wars in

contemporary times and how potential threats can be combatted. Whereas the first three

generations of warfare consisted of conventional methods, a shift was recorded when the fourth

generation emerged. It is characterized by a departure from standard tactics which relied on

massive numbers, ammunition and physical contact on the battlefield. This form of war is fought

in a dispersed manner and spreads throughout the enemy‘s society.1 The preferred mode of

fighting relies on mobility, adaptability and agility rather than manpower and arms. It aims to

attack the enemy nation in whichever manner is most damaging, be it cultural, social, political or

physical. The primary difference between the departure from the earlier three generations is that

fourth generation warfare does not target only soldiers. It targets ideas, culture, media,

international agencies, market activities and even the minds of the citizens. Ultimately, the goal

is to exploit the enemy‘s weakness in order to convince their strategists‘ that they are simply

unequipped to achieve their goals.

1
http://indianstrategicknowledgeonline.com/web/FROM%20FOURTH%20GENERATION%20to%20hybrid.pdf

4
There is a lack of clear consensus as far as Fifth Generation Warfare, which is the most novel

concept in the study of wars, is concerned. It is a step further from fourth generation warfare and

can essentially be described as a war that is waged between a state and non-state actors aimed at

subverting the dominant order. Although its origins remain disputed, but when assessed

according to the aforementioned definition, it derives its roots from the 9/11 attacks in United

States for which a terrorist organization Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility. The tools of attack

have radically diversified ranging from economic, social, political to air, space and cyberspace2.

Fifth Generation Warfare i.e. 5 GW, does not feature armies nor does it feature concrete ideas.

According to U.S Army Major Shannon Beebe, the top intelligence officer for Africa, it is a

―vortex of violence‖ which is motivated by deep-seeded frustration stemming from the have-nots

of society. The proponents of 5GW combine battlefield tactics but the battlefield itself could

range from cyberspace to a state‘s water supply to the banking system of a nation itself. The

sheer purpose remains instilling fear and weakening the entire national framework to the core. 3

The four key approaches that govern this form of warfare are as follows:

1. Networks: There is heavy reliance on digital networks and data collection

2. Combat Cloud: The interdependent virtual grids/networks form a virtual cloud that

contains a mass of data that can be used in order to exploit the enemy.

3. Domains: The warfare is conducted on five key domains and this is what primarily sets it

apart from previous generations of war. The domains include land, sea, air, space and,

most importantly, cyberspace.

2
Frank G. Hoffman, ―Wars Like No Other‖ briefing slides, Carlisle Barracks, PA, U.S. Army War College, April
21, 2008.

3
‗How to Win a Fifth Generation War‘, David Axe, 2009, Wired (www.wired.com)

5
 4. Command and Control: Information flows, software incompatibilities and internal

vulnerabilities are exploited in order to attack, deceive and weaken the opponent.4

Statement of Problem

There exist in literature overlapping definitions of fifth generation warfare and hybrid warfare.

When defined in the simple terms, it is a form of warfare that aims to destroy the enemy state

from within by targeting its culture, societal values and economy. For the purpose of this paper,

the emergence of fifth generation warfare is to be considered as post-9/11. Although the study of

this notion is under research throughout the world, it remains to be seen how academics view the

onset of fifth generation warfare (5GW) tactics being used in Pakistan. Military analysts as well

as academics suggest that India has used this war tactic to destabilize Pakistan in the past and

continues to do so while United States of America (USA) and Russia remain at loggerheads

accusing each other of the use of hybrid warfare to interfere in their political processes. The

second peaceful democratic transfer of power in Pakistan in 2018 was marked by accusations of

foul-play and military involvement in local as well as international media hence leading the

nation to bring the legitimacy of the incumbent government into question. This paper aims to

study the various facets of 5th Generation Warfare in relation to media in its contemporary

context. It is pertinent to analyze what can be done to combat the challenges that lay ahead.

4
https://www.quora.com/What-is-Fifth-Generation-Warfare-Is-it-any-different-from-hybrid-warfare-gray-zone-
warfare

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Hypothesis
“Fifth generation warfare is being propagated in Pakistan using media and cyberspace and it

poses an imminent threat to the social and political framework of the nation.”

Sub-Research Questions

1. What was the nature of Russian intervention in US Elections 2016?

2. How is Fifth Generation Warfare being practiced around the world?

3. What kind of threats does this phenomenon pose to Pakistan?

4. What are the possible remedies to curb this phenomenon from further deepening the

instability it has created in Pakistan thus far?

Scope and Significance of Study

Significance of Study:

It is crucial to study this issue as there is a research gap existing in the Pakistani context. The

concept is current and pervasive therefore highly relevant to the existing scenario today. Its

significance lies in the fact that this warfare tarnishes the social fabric of a state and has the

potential to render long-term damage if not countered effectively. It is also important to establish

exactly how this form of warfare is currently being employed, the extent to which it has etched

itself into the society and the level of damage it has caused.

Furthermore, it is said to be the future of armed conflict hence it is important to be well-versed in

the challenges that lay ahead. There are 44 million users of social media in Pakistan today, most

of them comprising of the youth. Hence, it is a soft target for external forces. If utilized properly,

social media users in Pakistan can be used to counter propaganda rather than fall prey to it.

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Scope of Study:
 The research will primarily be conducted in Islamabad

 The nature of this research is constrained by time as well as space

 Due to the speculative and developing nature of the subject, only published journal

articles will be used and analyzed in context of sensationalized television content and

social media trends

 A survey will be conducted in order to gauge the level of understanding that civilians

possess regarding this phenomenon

 Academics and military analysts will be interviewed for the purpose of this research

Research Method
The research will comprise of both primary and secondary sources. The secondary sources will

be drawn from the international context available in journalistic articles, news articles, books on

subject and then contrasted with primary sources obtained domestically in order to create a

comparison. Furthermore, this study will rely on a mixed-methods approach using both

quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative data will be collected through interviews with

relevant personnel which will be used as a backdrop for this paper due to limitations of research

material published online whereas quantitative data will involve distributing questionnaires

comprising of both close and open ended questions and analyzing the responses to gauge the

level of awareness regarding fifth generation warfare.

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Research Findings
For the purpose of this study, a survey was circulated amongst civil servants, professionals,

students as well as retired individuals5. Of the respondents, 70 individuals responded to the

survey in full thus, for the purpose of this research, these are the responses that will be assessed.

Of these, 78.6% of the dataset were aged between 18 to 25 years whereas the rest were 25 years

plus6. This is a significant factor as this is the age group that uses social media most widely

whereas it is believed that those who are slightly older i.e. 45 to 60 years of age are more

susceptible to propaganda. This can be attributed to the fact that they are new to the use of social

media as it was not an inherent component of their schooling as is the case with millennial

individuals. It is also important to note that of the population sample, the professions of the

respondents are as follows:

1. Civil Servants (13)

2. Student (3)

3. Banker (2)

4. Teacher (2)

5. Retired teacher

6. Construction

7. Designer

8. Auto Industry

9. House wife

10. Procurement manager

11. Self-Employed

5
Appendix A
6
Figure 1

9
12. Mechanical Engineer

13. Instructor

14. Chartered Accountant

15. IT Officer

16. Corporate Group Logistics Manager

17. Energy consultant

18. Housewife

19. Architect

20. Housewife

21. Corporate Lawyer

22. Research student

23. Health safety and environment

24. Civil servant

25. Manager sales

26. English Language Trainer

27. Lawyer

28. Engineering & Teaching

29. Event manager

30. Marketing

31. Research Scientist

32. Solicitor

33. Manager

34. Government Officer

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 35. Senior SEO expert

36. Market Research Analyst

37. Artist

38. Federal Government Officer

39. Pakistan Customs Service

40. Government servant

41. Businessman

42. Electrical engineer

43. HSE Personnel

44. Electrical Engineer

45. Unemployed

46. Student

47. Social worker

48. Engineering

49. Private Employee

50. Business Development

51. Educationist

Thus, the dataset comprises of largely working professionals currently employed at positions that

could have a bearing on the level of influence that is made on their thought process. Since the

survey was circulated through Linkedin and Facebook and was subject to certain restrictions,

thus the pool that responded to it is generally well-educated and well-informed. 40% of these

were aware of the concept that various generations of warfare exist whereas 41.4% were

11
‗vaguely aware‘ but did not have a concrete understanding of the idea in itself.7 A majority of

those who were aware of the concept had acquired their information through social media while

newspapers and journalistic articles also served as sources for some.8 When questioned whether

they understood what is meant by 5th Generation Warfare, the responses were mixed ranging

from textbook definitions to vague guesswork. It appears that there is, as stated in the

introduction; a lack of consensus as to what exactly defines the phenomenon.

After establishing the level of awareness that the respondents possess about this phenomenon,

the questions that followed aimed to assess the level to which they have been susceptible to anti-

state propaganda and how they reacted to it. The following questions were asked:

1. Have you ever clicked on an article due to its attractive title only to come across

completely different information?9

2. Did you come across fake news during the 2018 General Elections of Pakistan?10

3. How do you spend your time on social media?11

4. When you see a news headline, how likely are you to read the text underneath it?12

5. Have you ever shared a piece of information or news without verifying it?13

It was interesting to note, based on this data, that 87% of the respondents answered positively to

Question1 hence setting the tone for the subsequent questions. A majority of them spend their

7
Figure 2
8
Figure 3
9
Figure 4
10
Figure 5
11
Figure 6
12
Figure 7
13
Figure 8

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time on social media ‗randomly browsing‘ and are highly likely to be susceptible to click bait

and subsequent fake news. This could be indicative of the fact that those trying to spread fake

news are aware of the social media usage patterns of individuals aged 18-25 years. Thus, they

design their articles and headings accordingly. Furthermore, an important aspect that is to be

gathered from this data is that the dataset comprises of educated working professionals.

Therefore, if this date-set is vulnerable to fake news, how likely is it that the larger portion of the

population i.e. uninformed illiterate users of social media platforms, particularly Facebook, are

prone to deception through such news as they are less likely to fact-check. They are also fairly

impressionable hence the possibility of being influenced against the state through Fifth

Generation Warfare‘s cyber tactics.

Literature Review

The transition between new and conventional warfare at the end of 20th Century has spurred a

debate between analysts, military personnel, scholars, political scientists alike as they attempt to

unravel and understand the nature and dynamic of warfare in this post-conventional era. Certain

arguments espouse that it is not the tactics of warfare that have changed. Rather, they have

developed according to the lessons taught by history.

Scholars such as Mary Kaldor14, Herfried Munkler15, Mark Duffield16 focused on the key

differences between conventional, Trinitarian warfare i.e. associated with the ascent of a modern

14
Mary Kaldor, New and Old Wars, Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001; Mary
Kaldor; Basker Vashee, (eds. on behalf of UNU World Institute for Development
Economic Research), Restructuring the Global Military Sector. Volume I: New Wars,
London, Washington: Pinter, 2001.

13
state as well as aspects of the Cold War. The general observation remains that post World War 2,

the pattern of inter-state wars was replaced by intra-state violence. Although regional and

contextual differences remain, the scholars argue that the structural features of war general

comprise of a flagrant disregard for the system, violence that is directed against civilians rather

than military and sporadic, disorganized attacks rather than on defined lines. This indicates a

departure from the first three generations of warfare.

According to Herfriend Munkler17, the classical model of inter-state warfare has been replaced

with intra-state warfare hence states have begun to lose their absolute authority on organized

violence and have been replaced by ‗military entrepreneurs. It is important to understand the idea

of new wars as a whole in order to comprehend the leanings of Fifth Generation Warfare and

how it has impacted the world. The new age of warfare consists of suicide bombings, terrorist

attacks, civilian displacement and the creation of widespread outright fear amongst the very

social fabric of a state. Munkler states that the transformative nature of warfare is based on the

‗de-statization of war or privatization of military force, autonomization of forms of violence.

These wars tend to be prolonged due to external assistance, high consumption of resources and

generally because they are driven by profit motive rather than state sovereignty.

On the contrary, literature exists where scholarly works argue regarding the very concept of

‗newness‘ in contemporary wars. Siniša Malešević,18 Mats Berdal,19 E.A. Henderson20 and D.

15
Herfried Münkler, The New Wars, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
16
Mark Duffield, Global Governance and the New Wars. The Merging of Development and
Security, London, New York: Zed Books, 2001.
17
Herfried Münkler, The New Wars, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
18
Siniša Malešević, The Sociology of War and Violence, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press, 2010.
19
Mats Berdal, ―How ‗new‘ are ‗new wars‘? Global economic change and the study of civil

14
Singer assert that characterizing features of contemporary wars such as abduction, massacres,

population displacement or sexual violence is not a novel concept. Rather, these are concepts as

old as that of war itself.

Newman21 claims that the new wars literature, while emphasizing the oddities of contemporary

conflict, has contributed immensely to the understanding of civil war as well as the social and

economic implications of civil war which in turn provides insight to security discourse in the

global context, particularly human security.

Chapter 1: Global Context: Russian Intervention in US Elections

Considering that the United States is currently the reigning superpower of the world, the US

General Elections hold immense weight in the global context owing to the implications that the

elected government will yield once in power. The US Elections 2016 were no different, with the

results electing first-time President Donald Trump against Hilary Clinton, as the runner-up. A

professor at University of Pennsylvania, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, published a book called

‗Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President – What We Don‘t, Can‘t

and Do Know‘. It is a compelling account of the extent to which and the tactics that the Russians

used in order to influence the results of the General Elections and allow Trump to deem victory.

war‖, Global Governance, vol. 9, no. 4, Oct.-Dec. 2003, pp. 477–502

20
Henderson, Errol A.; Singer, J. (2002), ―‘New wars‘ and rumours of ‗new wars‘‖,
International Interactions: Empirical and Theoretical Research in International
Relations, Vol. 28, issue 2, 2002, p. 1,
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03050620212098, accessed September
2014.
21
Newman, Edward (2004), ―The ‗New Wars‘ Debate: A Historical Perspective Is
Needed‖, Security Dialogue, vol. 35, no. 2, June 2004, p. 186,
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.469.4895&rep=rep1&type=pdf
, accessed October 2013.

15
In 2017, the House and the Senate conducted hearings on Russia‘s social media manipulations

and assessed a sampling of several Facebook advertisements that were released by the House of

Intelligence Committee. All these advertisements had been funded by Russians. This confirmed

existing suspicions regarding Russian intervention despite Facebook‘s chairman and C.E.O Mark

Zuckerberg claiming that Russian content had been too small to bear a significant impact on US

Elections. However, the evidence that was presented to the Senate committee revealed that the

material generated and circulated by Kremlin had reached a staggering one hundred and twenty-

six million American Facebook users leading Senator Dianne Feinstein to declare the cyber-

attack as ‗cataclysmic‘

House Democrats proceeded to release advertisements that not only targeted data but also the

demographics and geographic locations of the users that received them thereby selecting certain

targets. Since Trump‘s voter base was the most massive in white Americans, Russian

intervention aimed to minimize African-American votes hence offsetting any chances of counter-

voting. Fake ads, allegedly sponsored by Kremlin, showed black women standing next to signs

stating that African Americans vote for Hilary are believed to have influenced people to skip

voting altogether.

It is important to note that, according to Jamieson, political messages such as these are

particularly effective when they are circulated by trusted sources, such as the members of one‘s

community. It appears that Kremlin operatives did the same by depicting themselves as regular

members of the American society on Facebook in order to share messages that would dissuade

people from voting for Hilary.

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Academic research states that political messages such as these cannot change the mindset of

voters once they have decided upon a candidate. It can, however, affect those whose votes are

undecided. According to certain estimates, around thirty seven million Americans i.e. 15% of the

electorate were undecided in the weeks counting up to the election.

The Kremlin campaign was effective due to its consistency with messaging from Trump‘s

campaign and the way that it aligned itself with the campaign‘s geographic and demographic

objectives. It did not try to push voters in another direction, rather they only amplified the

process that was already in place. The point of this entire exercise was to dissuade non-Trump

voters from voting altogether. This was further amplified by the rumors tarnishing Hilary‘s

credibility as well as Trump‘s divisive rhetoric regarding immigrants, minorities, Muslims etc.

Finally, on Election Day, CNN exit polls suggest that Trump, despite his inarticulate speeches

and personal and political baggage, outperformed Clinton by twenty-six points among veterans.

He also performed better than previous Republican nominees Matt Romney and John McCain22.

22
―Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President—What We Don‘t, Can‘t, and Do Know,‖
by Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a professor of communications at the University of Pennsylvania)

17
Chapter 2: Fifth Generation Warfare in Developing Nations

Russia‘s involvement in U.S Elections shows that two global adversaries, who led Cold War

against each other in the past, have now found new realms of encroachment such as cyber-

hacking, influencing the minds of their civilians and swaying political decisions that hold weight

in the future.

It is important to understand that Fifth Generation Warfare in today‘s day and age entails

reliance on social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Furthermore, it relies on

the use of fake emails, text messages, news stories etc. It is noteworthy that the development of

internet and social media has enabled Fifth Generation Warfare to develop more effectively. It is

argued that this form of warfare is spurred due to a sentiment of deprivation and destitution of

those nations that are surrounded by affluence. The frustration that stems from desperate masses,

such as that of immigrant refugees from war-stricken areas like Syria, and the general prevailing

conditions in countries on the periphery regarding whom global powers choose to remain silent.

This is a parallel view to that implying that fifth generation warfare is a modern tactic. It further

enhances the concept to being one of the constant tussle between the bourgeoisie and the

proletariat. Movements such as ‗Black Lives Matter‘ show the level of economic and social

deprivation that the African American community in the United States continues to be subjected

to. According to UN Human Development, 1.8 percent of the global population possesses 86%

of the world‘s wealth.23 The 2013 Oxfam International Report states that the richest one percent

own 48% of global wealth and the situation has only exacerbated with time.24 Essentially, the

23
http://www.pk.undp.org/
24
https://www.oxfam.org/

18
world is divided into two groups i.e. United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom,

France, Australia and Canada which has 45% of the world‘s income while the second group

comprising of India, Indonesia and China, amongst others, hold only 9% of the wealth.

Chapter 3: Pakistan’s Case

Fifth Generation Warfare stems from frustration and is further catalyzed by foreign invasions,

state oppression and a politically unjust system. This is a classic case of Pakistan where the rise

of local religious fanatics who challenge the state‘s writ by calling for challenging the state‘s

writ. A recent example of this is when Khadim Rizvi paralyzed the entire state by staging a

protest in Faizabad in the federal capital of Pakistan. However, it is crucial to make an important

distinction here that these culprits do not stem from deprivation. Rather, they gather followers

based on their frustrations and grievances with the state. It is the same case with Taliban, Al

Qaeda and militant organizations across the world when they induct young gullible children into

their system.

Countries such as Angola and Congo suffer due to a resource curse while Pakistan suffers due to

the geostrategic importance of its location. Instead of capitalizing upon its resources, it has

constantly had global powers interfere in its domestic affairs. It is argued that the military

controls the foreign policy of Pakistan. Considering the current circular debt crisis and twin

deficit with a depreciating exchange rate that the nation is facing, it is suffering at the hands of

global powers that are attempting to further subjugate Pakistan by offering financial assistance in

lieu of intervening in CPEC and other development projects. When essence of democracy does

not seep into institutions like legislature, executive and judiciary, the electoral democracy

degenerates into a system where people get marginalized. In the absence of inclusive and

19
pluralistic governance with real political power devolved down to the local government level, the

transition of democracy does not yield concrete effects. The enclaves of poverty and deprivation

soon develop into cesspools of violent resistance against the perceived symbols of state

oppression. Foreign elements fish freely in these turbid waters in pursuit of their strategic

objectives, while the state continually withers away.25

It is important to question further what has allowed fifth generation warfare to seep into the

system of Pakistan. The political narrative is heavily influenced by external powers. For

example, people have lost faith in the nation and generally carry a skeptical view regarding most

issues. There is a general lack of resolve as far as the professional atmosphere is concerned. One

must ask why this loss of patriotism has occurred when even nations that have suffered far worse

are able to harbor a certain sense of nationalism.

According to Dr. Shahid Masood, targeting ordinary civilians is a prime tool of fifth generation

warfare. Proponents gain trust as parts of society and slowly inject toxic ideas into people. This

is the same assertion as that of Jamieson, referred to earlier in this paper. Quoting the example of

the Sehwan Sharif bombing in 2017, he states that it is not possible that a bomber was able to

enter the shrine without having gained the trust and assimilating himself into the society

surrounding the shrine. Thus, this form of warfare is not outright fighting. It basically involves

delving into the society, influencing the people and then attacking. The same is the case with the

Army Public School bombing in 2016. One must question how the attackers entered the area and

subsequently the school, where they attacked.

25
Raashid Wali Janjua, https://dailytimes.com.pk/216654/fifth-generation-warfare-in-pakistan/

20
It is the absence of independent scholars that has led to an intellectual gap. Enemies of state

have, therefore, utilized this gap by projecting a negative image of Pakistan abroad and

constructing alternative narratives regarding Pakistan‘s state and security institutions.

Promotion of freedom of expression and investment in people becomes the urgent course of

action for neutralizing the adversary‘s hybrid war tactics used against Pakistan. Often poisonous

narrative against Pakistan goes effectively unchallenged by academics in Pakistan that narrative

informs the opinion of policy makers especially in the West. Development of quality human

resource is necessary for effectively calibrating and disseminating Pakistan‘s perspective in

international arena where competing narratives battle.

Chapter 4: How Media is Influencing Pakistan

Extensive research has been conducted regarding how the onset of social media has impacted the

psyche of it users. This is an important factor considering the fact that the average individual

spends more than 8 hours using their smartphone per day and there are a plethora of applications

that have led to mass usage to the extent of addiction. With relevance to Fifth Generation

Warfare, cyber-war is a particularly significant tool in the hands of those who wish to destabilize

the nation internally.

In order to understand the role that the media is playing in Pakistan, one must understand that

post-2002 the television world experienced an explosion in terms of the number of channels This

includes entertainment, sports and news channels alike. Coupled with the largely dormant role of

PEMRA, lack of censorship and media control and a general dearth of consensus between

government departments regarding control of television content, this has yielded harmful impacts

on the general population.

21
A study was recently conducted in 2012 in order to study the nature of complaints that viewers

have launched against various channels26. The details are tabulated as follows:

No Name Complaints

1 Samaa TV 450

2 Geo News 147

3 Geo Ent 95

4 Express News 32

5 AAG / Geo Aur 26

6 ARY Digital 21

7 HUM TV 13

8 Dawn News 11

9 Dunya TV News 11

10 AAJ News 8

Against the Ideology of Pakistan: 150+

26
https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/10747/what-is-the-worst-thing-about-pakistan%E2%80%99s-media/

22
The total number of complaints was roughly 800 and they were registered through PEMRA‘s

online complaint portal. It is interesting to note that more than 150 complaints of these claimed

that the channels were airing content that was against the ideology of Islam and Pakistan. The

complainants stated that these channels were airing content that was either anti-nationalistic or

pro-India or pro-Israel. The stance was taken based on the number of Bollywood movies being

aired domestically, Hindu cultural events being celebrated on live television and even regarding

insufficient attention being paid to the wars of 1965 and 1971.

Immorality/vulgarity: 130+ complaints

The second most frequent complaint was with regards to immoral or vulgar content being

displayed on television. The masses that regularly tune into television shows are generally lower

middle to middle income housewives. The complaints ranged from explicit content being shown

on morning shows to the very titles of drama serials claiming that this is against the societal

values dominant in Pakistan.

The complainants were also of the view that such content can corrupt the minds of young

viewers and give them false ideas about the realities of life. The people were dissatisfied even

with social issues being shown on television as they felt they were counterproductive to the

societal norms.

Unethical/false reporting, programming: 60+ complaints

Thirdly, complaints were registered about (mostly) TV news show hosts, and rarely, a complaint

against unethical/false reporting. This is a dilemma that the world is suffering from currently. On

23
one hand there is media freedom but on the other hand, it is leading to rapid, uncontrolled spread

of fake news as well as unethical reporting.

Sensationalism: 11+ complaints

When considering the issues that an ordinary citizen would face from private media outlets, one

would imagine that sensationalism and yellow journalism would top the list. However, it comes

in at the fourth position. This is understandably so, since George Orwell in 1984 claims that

people are impressionable and they thrive on drama and sensationalism. Hence, the television

channels are only providing what the audience wishes to see and the content that will earn them

the maximum ratings subsequently.

Promoting/encouraging criminal activity: 11+ complaints

Other (payment of salaries, payment of prizes): 4+ complaints

This case has been highlighted in order to contextualize the extent to which media is impacting

the minds of the people. Several channels continually exhibit scenes of gore and violence,

defame politicians and leaders on national television, discredit state and military institutions

hereby adding to the air of skepticism that thrives in this nation as of today. Television channels

and social media have also played a role in pitting groups of people against each other by

reporting partially on issues.

According to Noam Chomsky, amongst other media scholars, ‗agenda-setting‘ is a tool that the

media uses in order to decide which information will be portrayed to the audiences and which

information will not be. Zia-ul-Haq‘s famous incident can be quoted as an example where he

24
bicycled throughout Rawalpindi while the Holy Kaaba was being attacked in Makkah on 20th

November 1979. Meanwhile, enraged individuals attacked the US Embassy. A series of shocking

and grave incidents were underway yet the media decided to give mass coverage to General

Zia‘s bicycle ride hence setting the agenda and the lens during times of strict media scrutiny. In

more recent times, one could turn to the discovery of child pornography circles operating at large

in the district of Kasur. The news hit media outlets like a storm and shocked the nation to its

core. However, within a single day, media attention was diverted elsewhere owing to the fact that

certain powerful individuals felt that their reputations would be at stake if the media trial being

conducted on the Kasur incident was pursued further. The media incarcerated social media

sensation Qandeel Baloch to the extent that she became a laughing stock and a household name.

Some even go as far as to say that the media was equally to be blamed for her brutal murder.

However, media‘s post-humous coverage of the same individual depicted her as a pitiable and

helpless girl. These examples from the local context show the selective bias practiced by media

even in modern times.

25
Recommendations and Way Forward

The explosion of electronic media has resulted in multiple social and psychological issues.

Before addressing the recommendations, however, it is noteworthy to mention that the media has

yielded particular positive impacts as well and it is on the basis of these that the nation must

battle the challenge of Fifth Generation Warfare in terms of media. Media has allowed support of

political and social movements. It has enabled the people to gain a deeper understanding of

democracy and what rights it allows them. The population of Pakistan is far more politically

aware now than it was a decade ago. Citizen journalism has allowed multiple corruption cases to

be tried publically, for instance electoral rigging. This has enabled greater transparency, which is

a core statute of good governance. It has also played a major role as a whistle-blower when it

comes to social issues; the most prime example of which being the mass reaction that Zainab‘s

rape and murder garnered on social media that led to the culprit being hung to death on 17th

October 2018.

However, the evasive race for ratings, profit motive and general popularity has led to major

issues. There is no particular code of conduct in place nor is there any consistent professional

ethos. Media today has taken on the role of yellow journalism, aggressive debates, overt

coverage of explicit and gory scenes and an abject violation of people‘s privacy

It has become essential to monitor the media thus a media institute must be set up by the

Government and private media houses in order to train technical personnel in how electronic

media works and what the sensitivity of particular issues is. The way in which they handle issues

and the tone that they use while reporting should be managed in order to project a more

26
responsible image of the media. The curriculum of such programs must focus on training

journalists for investigative and analytical journalism, the likes of which is being done by The

Economist and New York Times.

Furthermore, PEMRA must actively engage with the media in order to strictly impose a code of

conduct on the content that is aired by media as well as that which is circulated across social

media. It is also important to understand that even though the social media may be beyond

control, most people refer to television or newspapers to verify the news that they see on social

media outlets hence it must be reported responsibly. PEMRA can involve the civil society as

well as academics in order to develop a code. Media houses and prominent media personalities

may also be involved in order to thwart resistance.

The conundrum of Fifth Generation Warfare is that it seeps into the society and impedes the very

logic that society functions according to. For example, despite a minor chunk of the population

protesting against foreign content being shown domestically, many external cultural practices

have been adopted by Pakistani society such as Indian traditions as well as Western norms. This

has led to a stark disparity amongst two radical extremes of conservatives and liberals. There is

also a lack of tolerance and acceptance. People no longer understand how to coexist in a nation

that was created with a colorful mixture of individuals of various backgrounds.

Nations such as Australia, Sweden and South Africa have established Media Ombudsman in

order to represent the interests of the people by investigating complaints regarding the violation

of public rights as well as that of the code of ethics by the media. If such an Ombudsman is

established in Pakistan, it can promote positive journalistic practices and monitor the content that

is being complained against as well. This will create a healthy system of checks and balances.

27
It is also crucial to state here that it is not just the media that is to be held accountable for the

situation that Pakistan has found itself in today. One must understand that Pakistan does not only

suffer from a poor image internally but also internationally as well, with a mass majority seeing

it as little more than a war-torn or terrorist-ridden area. This is where the role of academics as

well as government institutions comes into play.

There is a lack of research being conducted in the national image projection of Pakistan. Scholars

and academics should be mandated to research more regarding how the image of Pakistan can be

salvaged. Furthermore, the more that is invested in securing the future of the nation i.e. the

youth, the more fruitful it will be. Universities as well as schools must inculcate a sense of

nationalism in their students. They must be taught to embrace the gift of learning and to work

hard in order to bring betterment in Pakistan rather than indulge in self-doubt and harm

themselves and the nation in the long term. The state must allocate a more significant portion of

the budget to education, research, scientific learning in order to discourage brain-drain and

develop promising potential domestically, the way that India has done in its ‗Make In India‘27

national campaign.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) is currently in the process of conducting research

regarding Fifth Generation Warfare. According to top military decision-makers, Fifth Generation

Warfare is as serious as any other tactical or nuclear war in the world. Therefore, they have

invested heavily in order to understand the phenomenon in order to combat it. It is here that

academic institutions must also step up in order to play their part.

27
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/pm-modis-make-in-india-
campaign/newslist/3877788.cms

28
Furthermore, as far as the Foreign Service of Pakistan as well as the Information Service are

concerned, being the cadres vested with the responsibility of protecting the diplomatic image of

the nation abroad, they must amplify their efforts in projecting a positive image. Again, a classic

example may be taken from Pakistan‘s next door neighbor India, that has capitalized upon its

soft image projection through Bollywood to an impressive extent. Issues exist in every nation but

it is the factors that they decisively choose to highlight that set the tone for the rest of the world.

Thus, the image projection of Pakistan must be given special consideration to by organizing

cultural shows, showcasing the diverse geographical beauty of the nation, the multitude of

cuisines etc. to attract tourism and to promote a softer image.

29
Conclusion
In light of the primary and secondary research conducted, particularly keeping in view the

prevailing situation in Pakistan, one may state that the null hypothesis is accepted. Pakistan is, in

fact, facing Fifth Generation Warfare with cyber-war being at the forefront, as is the case with

most nations around the globe. It is important to understand that the rapid introduction of new

media technologies, coupled with the dwindling economy and low literacy rates, catalyzed the

social and cultural damage that external as well as internal forces intended to inflict. Nearly 50%

of Pakistan‘s population is under the age of 30 hence indicating a youth explosion. However,

with the current economic growth rate at 4%, the economy cannot provide employment to most

of the young individuals. This leads to a sense of deep-rooted resentment and frustration.

Furthermore, Pakistan has been riddled with the plague of terrorism, that it has now defeated

internally for the most part. However, this plague left devastating effects for generations to

come. Yet another major contributing factor is the general air of mistrust that is prevalent in

Pakistan as a nation. People who are less literate and aware are all the more likely to fall prey to

conspiracy theories and malicious agendas by anti-state forces. Further adding to the conundrum

is the factor of inequitable growth of the four provinces, with Punjab being the most affluent

province while Balochistan continues to survive with archaic infrastructure and mass

deprivation.

On weakening the social cohesion in the nation, anti-state elements have exacerbated the

situation by fuelling intolerance in society. Sunni-Shia riots are commonplace whereas Ahmedis

are out rightly being excluded from the system of governance, despite their academic mertis,

simply on the basis of their religious beliefs. The Hazara community is being persecuted while

the entire nation watches silently. The idea of peaceful coexistence has become a distant reality.

30
These factors have allowed the nation to be more vulnerable to propaganda and psychological

attacks by adversaries of the nation. However, the military views this issue just as it views any

other potential threat to national sovereignty. Thus, they are tackling it accordingly. It is vital to

mention here that economic prosperity, literacy as well as awareness is what allows people to

become more privy about whether a news article is fake or not or how they can make more

informed decisions regarding national issues rather than simply believing everything that meets

their eye.

It is fair to state that a strong nation with an equally strong and prosperous population is better

equipped to combat such a threat and that is what Pakistan must strive to become. With the

requisite level of cooperation between the government, military and academics, the nation can

strive towards a more inclusive and strong society.

Word Count: 7051

31
Bibliography

1. http://indianstrategicknowledgeonline.com/web/FROM%20FOURTH%20GENERATIO

N%20to%20hybrid.pdf

2. Frank G. Hoffman, ―Wars Like No Other‖ briefing slides, Carlisle Barracks, PA, U.S.

Army War College, April 21, 2008.

3. ‗How to Win a Fifth Generation War‘, David Axe, 2009, Wired (www.wired.com)

4. https://www.quora.com/What-is-Fifth-Generation-Warfare-Is-it-any-different-from-

hybrid-warfare-gray-zone-warfare

5. Mary Kaldor, New and Old Wars, Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001; Mary

6. Kaldor; Basker Vashee, (eds. on behalf of UNU World Institute for Development

7. Economic Research), Restructuring the Global Military Sector. Volume I: New Wars,

8. London, Washington: Pinter, 2001.

9. Herfried Münkler, The New Wars, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005.

10. Mark Duffield, Global Governance and the New Wars. The Merging of Development and

11. Security, London, New York: Zed Books, 2001.

12. Herfried Münkler, The New Wars, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005.

13. Siniša Malešević, The Sociology of War and Violence, Cambridge: Cambridge

University

14. Press, 2010.

15. Mats Berdal, ―How ‗new‘ are ‗new wars‘? Global economic change and the study of civil

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17. Henderson, Errol A.; Singer, J. (2002), ―‘New wars‘ and rumours of ‗new wars‘‖,

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Can‘t, and Do Know,‖ by Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a professor of communications at the

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33
Appendix A

This survey aims to analyze general awareness regarding this phenomenon

* Required

Age Bracket *

Mark only one oval.

o 18-25 years

o 25+ years

Gender *

Mark only one oval.

o Female

o Male

Profession *

Are you aware of the various dimensions of warfare?

Mark only one oval.

o Yes

o No

o Vaguely

If yes, what was your main source of information?

Mark only one oval.

34
 o Social media

o Newspapers

o Journalistic Articles

What do you understand by the generations of warfare?

Have you ever clicked on an article due to its attractive title only to come across

completely different information?

Mark only one oval.

o Yes

o No

Did you come across fake news during the 2018 General Elections of Pakistan?

Mark only one oval.

o Yes

o No

How do you spend your time on social media?

Mark only one oval.

o Accessing news articles

o Networking

o Random browsing

When you see a news headline, how likely are you to read the text underneath it? *

35
 Mark only one oval.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Not likely Very likely

Have you ever shared a piece of information or news without verifying it?

Mark only one oval.

o Yes

o No

o Maybe

o Yes, but later on I realized that I shouldn't have.

Statistical Data

Figure 1:

36
Figure 2:

Figure 3:

37
Figure 4:

38
Figure 5:

Figure 6:

39
Figure 7:

Figure 8:

40
Figure 9:

41