Role of Media in Hybrid Warfare in Pakistan: How to Convert Challenges into Opportunities

Abstract

In the defense community, the use of hybrid warfare has expanded.  It is generally labeled as contemporary warfare. The term is usually adopted in strategic documents such as the national government of Pakistan, developing regions, as well as developed nation central such as NATO, and EU, based on which various articles have been presented. However, hybrid warfare has not yet been understood with social media and the opportunities it opens for Pakistan. Primarily, the concern is to assess whether the concept is understood clearly for its strategic implementation, which can help to overcome the risk concerning the defense community. It is suggested that efforts must be improved for enhancing and forming content on the meaning of hybrid warfare. While the social network’s effect includes transparency, individuals mobilizing, and collective decision making negative effect that results from hybrid warfare include manipulation, an unregulated environment, and misinformation proliferation.