A Critical Analysis of Strategies to Counter Hybrid Warfare: Way Forward for Pakistan

Abstract

This paper analyses the effectiveness of the strategies and policies being adopted by Pakistan to
counter Hybrid Warfare (HW) and suggests steps to formulate a plan to counter the future
challenges of HW. The evolving categories of conflict actors and their tactics cannot be located
under the generational model of warfare. The wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Ukraine,
and Pakistan are the classic examples of HW where strategies like the blending of conventional
competencies, irregular campaigns, information operations, and terrorism are employed to achieve
desired objectives. HW poses a threat to global and national peace and security. The conflict domain
in Pakistan changed after the 9/11. Pakistan faces a lot of challenges in the domain of HW ranging
from ethnic and sectarian issues, poor governance, weakening economy, and a sorry state of
education coupled with external threats at regional and global front. The societal fault lines,
economic disparities, political marginalization, and demographic inequities are exploited as major
playing fields to unleash a HW against Pakistan. This paper helps the policymakers and
practitioners to evaluate the effectiveness of existing strategies and to formulate innovative tactics
to counter hybrid warfare.