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Title “FIFTH- GENERATION WARFARE AND THE BATTLE OF NARRATIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS (2014-2022): A CASE STUDY OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN”

Author(s) Haseeba Ibrahim

Abstract This thesis investigates the war of narratives on social media between India and Pakistan and its impact on their national images. In the present era, warfare techniques have changed, and new methods of warfare, such as media propaganda warfare, the war of narratives, and fifthgeneration warfare, are filling the gaps. In the fifth-generation warfare, countries attempt to undermine each other through information operations rather than military conflicts. Countries are waging ideological, political, social, economic, digital, and cultural wars against one another. The current scenario involves narratives building on social media, which has become a powerful tool. Social media platforms, including Twitter and YouTube, have become influential tools of fifth-generation warfare, used to drive radicalization and violence through disinformation campaigns. In the case of India and Pakistan, they have been engaged in continuous disinformation operations against each other. Since 2014, India has adopted various warfare means against Pakistan. Various Indian groups continue to publish narratives to damage the image of Pakistan in the international community. On the other hand, Pakistan has developed a comprehensive counter-strategy to overcome fifth-generation warfare. In light of the aforementioned context, this thesis thoroughly analyzes how the war of narratives between India and Pakistan evolved using social media tools. The thesis follows a timeline between 2014 and 2022, considering three events for assessment: Terrorism, the Pulwama attack, and the demise of the Imran Khan government. While only two platforms, namely YouTube and Twitter, are chosen to assess these events, this thesis also presents some recommendations regarding how Pakistan can manage the war of narratives towards India in the future.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Social Sciences

Department International Relations

Language English

Publication Date 2024-05-09

Subject International Relations

Publisher NA

Contributor(s) NA

Format Chicago 16th Edition

Identifier NA

Source NA

Relation NA

Coverage NA

Rights NA

Category NA

Description