Harsha Kakar
Politicians and visual media houses have always been self-serving. Comments on Kashmir clearly follow party lines or media biases, while national interests, national security and national unity come last. After all, TRPs and votes count, national unity has little value. This has resulted in clear stands being adopted, anti or pro Government and since the army and other security forces are part of the Government, they face a similar bias.
Kashmir has become a new battleground, with local youth being exploited by Pakistan, anti-national separatists and religious leaders, as also local politicians seeking power, in case elections do come about. Valley media houses and political leaders, who should have been saner elements, seeking to engage the youth, counter false Pak propaganda and challenge comments of separatists and hard-line Imams are shying away, leading to further discontent. The youth are being indoctrinated, incited and made to believe that victory is in sight, clearly a battle for the minds. Nothing could be more disastrous for the future of the region, if youth continue being weaned in anti-national sentiments. In this battle,there emerges a new player, video warfare,deeply impacting mindset of the youth.
In this battle, a variety of videos originate from the valley and spread across the nation. Pak cyber warfare cells and their local supporters circulate videos of security forces containing agitations, while some security personnel upload videos of stone pelting and violence. Mass attendance at funerals of those killed in agitations are spread, garnering more supporters and enhancing local anger. The fact that Pak has established multiple cyber warfare cells solely for Kashmir is known to the government. These cells produce and circulate fake videos to enhance indoctrination. Indoctrination is reaching such levels that any anti-national video, including doctored and fake, spreads rapidly across the valley, without anyone even questioning its authenticity, further distancing youth from the mainstream.News channels jump to display such videos in their prime-time shows, without even confirming their authenticity.
In recent times, the most rapidly spreading video was that of a local, tied to the front of a jeep, which was moving in to rescue trapped security personnel from a polling booth. Articles and prime-time debates never once focussed on pressures facing the young officer as he was moving in with a small team to rescue security personnel surrounded by overfive hundred screaming and stone throwing youth. It was the video which made all the difference, including inviting negative comments by senior army veterans, after all,a picture is worth a thousand words and a video many times more.
Locally, maximum damage is created by Pak doctored videos, filled with fiery songs, religious sermons and martyrdom appeals to incite the youth. These are uploaded on social media sites of specific individuals who spread them at the appropriate moment, often repeating them to enhance impact. Surprisingly, some of these videos are crude and even show fake Indian army soldiers with open beards as alsoabusing in Punjabi accented Kashmiri. Sikhs have their beards properly fixed,others are not permitted beards, while almost all army personnel do not speak Kashmiri, clearly proving that such videos are fake. Simultaneously, the display of these videos in Pakistan encourages their nationals to volunteer as militants and enter the valley.
Locals are being asked to rush to encounter sites in mass numbers employing mobile communication networks, WhatsApp, signal or telegram. Intelligence reports indicate that over three hundred WhatsApp groups each with over two hundred and fifty members are in existence solely for this task. The impact is that even before a cordon is established and actions to flush out militants has commenced, youth have begun assembling, armed with stones, giving an impression that they always possess stocks of stones at home. This adds to problems of security forces, resulting in collateral casualties and affecting success of operations. Locals turned militants roam almost freely in their localities, openly displaying weapons, creating videos, circulating them on social media, tempting others to join, daring security forces to launch operations,knowing they possess local support.
This scenario has opened a new challenge for the government. The issue is how prepared are they to handle video and mass communication challenges. The easiest action which the governmenthas adopted, is blocking 3G and 4G telecom servicesor downgrading it to 2G and regularly cutting off mobile networks in the region. This cannot be a permanent measure.In case the issue is raised in courts, they may rule against any permanent order, further weakening the government’s stance.
The need of the hour is to set up an organization, under the Unified Command, to counter Pak cyber warfare cells. It would have a mammoth task of highlighting errors in fake Pak videos, slowly changing the mindset. Being a Government organization, it could tap multiple communication sources to spread its message.
There is also a requirement ofcirculating videos of support provided by security forces, including benefits under the ‘Sadbhavana’ projects of the army and positive Government actions. Sadbhavana and other forms of assistance remain localized, forgotten by the masses, simply because of ‘zero’ publicity. Security forces must first win the information warfare battle, before attacking hearts and minds, aiming to change mindsets.
In the rest of the country, despite negative comments by opposition politicians and biased visual media houses, nationalism is on the rise and demands for firmer action garnering support. This is mainly due to rapid spread of videos on social media networks,of agitators targeting hapless police personnel. While increased nationalism may appear a positive trend in the short term, however would be harmful in the long. It could enhance the divide between Kashmiris on one hand and the nation on the other. This could then adopt a complete religious fervour, which is presently being ignored.
The Government may contemplate any approach to resolve Kashmir, but changing the mindset and battling Pak and separatist propaganda will remain the top priority. It needs to get involved in the information battle without any delay. Blocking mobile networks should only remain a part of its localized strategy, wherein, prior to any operation being launched, mobile connectivity is cut for short durations, preventing circulation of messages and delaying arrival of flash mobs till operations are under control. Proactive actions must commence and are essential if the battle for the minds is finally to be won.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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