All Quiet on the Western Front Amid Cognitive Firestorm
DGMO Press Briefing on Sunday at NMC in New Delhi (Image credit X.com)
India-Pakistan Tensions Reveal a New War Frontier
By MANISH ANAND
NEW DELHI, May 12, 2025 – The lush meadows of Kashmir gleam under the first rays of sunlight. Guns are silent, and drones lie dormant. The India-Pakistan conflict now hinges on the next terror provocation. Yet, a digital firestorm rages unabated, with no pause in the war waged by online warriors.
Aravind, an X user with over 100,000 followers, recently claimed, “Pakistan’s nukes were hit by India, per some reports. An Egyptian Air Force transport jet was spotted landing in Pakistan, likely carrying Boron.” He suggested this sparked alarm in Washington, with “Uncle Sam jumping in the Oval Office.” Aravind further noted, “Egypt’s Nile Delta is rich in Boron, used to shield against nuclear radiation by absorbing neutrons.”
His claims build on a viral New York Times report alleging an Indian strike on Pakistan’s Noor Khan Air Base, near its nuclear stockpiles, prompted US President Donald Trump to “mediate” a truce between the South Asian rivals.
War Monitor, an X account with over a million followers, lamented the chaos in its comments section: “Reporting on India vs. Pakistan was a mistake. My comments are now flooded with users from both countries.” The vitriol, fueled by polarized narratives, unsettled the account, known for its Russia-Ukraine war insights.
The IPS Association issued a statement condemning “deplorable personal attacks” on Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who privatized his X account after facing backlash from digital warriors demanding Pakistan’s immediate fragmentation.
Indian military officials took center stage at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, presenting evidence of their targeted strikes under “Operation Sindoor.” They effectively countered Pakistan’s “cognitive warfare,” dispelling misinformation. However, the digital battle, inflamed by Trump’s claims of “mediating Kashmir,” persists.
Only India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, known for his sharp diplomacy, can fully address Trump’s narrative. Digital warriors eagerly await his response to the US president’s imaginative foray into India-Pakistan tensions.
“Sources” fed the media all through yesterday with gains for India. “Kinetic” and “non-kinetic” dimensions of the India-Pakistan conflicts were extensively explained.
Nitin A. Gokhale, a prominent strategic affairs commentator, also quoted “sources” to share an article-length post on X. “India’s aim was not to decimate the Pakistani Army or break Pakistan again, not at least this time. Having achieved the aims, India was willing to take the off ramp if Pakistan didn’t escalate,” Gokhale sought to silence the digital rage.
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Well articulated.