Page 14 - JDPA Volume 02, Issue 02

Journal of Defence & Policy Analysis Volume 02, Issue 02, December 2023

This makes information warfare tools particularly effective in situations of nei-
ther war nor peace, where maintaining a state of confusion can yield strategic
advantages.

Mr. Gokhale noted that while China and Russia are acknowledged masters of in-
formation warfare, Western countries are increasingly adopting similar strate-
gies to undermine non-Western nations. He explored the various tactics used to
shape the information space, distinguishing between overt and covert strategies.
These include perception management, mass media engagement, and secret in-
formation operations involving electronic warfare, intelligence activities, hack-
ing, and social media influence campaigns.

India’s vulnerability to disinformation

A significant portion of Mr. Gokhale’s presentation focused on India’s vulnerabil-
ity to disinformation campaigns orchestrated by Western nations. He attributed
this vulnerability to the rising prominence of the Indian economy, which has led
Western entities to employ think tanks, influencers, and media outlets to under-
mine India’s global standing. Specific instances, such as the Canadian Prime Min-
ister’s accusation against India regarding the death of a Khalistani activist, were
cited to illustrate these campaigns.

Driving factors and resistance

The speaker attributed these disinformation approaches to a persistent superior-
ity complex in Western states, which drives them to undermine Eastern nations.
In response, Eastern states resist these Western narratives. He cited the case of Sri
Lanka, where disinformation campaigns alleging human rights violations were
propagated through UN channels to shape international perceptions.

Strategies and countermeasures

Mr. Gokhale outlined several strategies employed in information warfare, in-
cluding the leaking of unverified information and efforts to undermine lead-
ership to create perceptions requiring damage control. He cautioned against the
unchecked influence of disinformation facilitated by modern technology and
emphasized the need for robust countermeasures.

During the Q&A session, Mr. Gokhale addressed a question regarding genocide
narratives circulated by the LTTE. He emphasized the importance of maintain-
ing ties with the Tamil diaspora, particularly with those who do not support the
LTTE. He suggested conducting social media campaigns with supportive narra-
tives, adopting a strategic silence approach, and engaging in specialized informa-
tion operations to counter disinformation effectively.

Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
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