Countering psychological warfare

Letter August 27, 2015
Military, intelligence agencies must realise IS' dangerous potential and take effective measures to counter its impact

RAWALPINDI: The Islamic State’s (IS) psychological warfare — its most effective tool — involves the planned use of propaganda and other psychological operations to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes and behaviour of its targets in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. The main objective of its warfare is to win power through spreading terror, without being engaged in a full-scale war, or achieve a significant victory while fighting at a low scale. Reportedly, it is successfully achieving its objectives by securing a favourable position in the political arena of its target area. Psychological warfare is the IS’s tool and application of propaganda against the ‘enemy’ in combination with other operational means, whether they be military, economic or political in nature. Fear of it is widespread because of its efficient use of media and technology.

The IS poses serious threats and although Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar has denied its presence in Pakistan, our media, government, military and intelligence agencies must realise its dangerous potential and take effective measures to counter the group’s impact.

Manahil Ijaz

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2015.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.