India tries to repair dented image on narrative front after Op Sindoor debacle
Indian military launches ‘future warfare’ for officers to shape public perception
New Delh : India has intensified efforts to repair its dented image on the narrative front after Pakistan effectively challenged New Delhi’s claims during Operation Sindoor and exposed serious weaknesses in India’s information warfare strategy.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Indian military has begun training officers of the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force in techniques aimed at shaping public perception and countering adversary narratives, highlighting the daunting challenges faced by New Delhi following Pakistan’s befitting response during the May 2025 conflict.
The initiative follows India’s acknowledgement of the difficulties it encountered on the information front in the aftermath of the Operation Sindoor debacle. A recent ‘future warfare’ course conducted by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) included a specific war-game scenario based on the post-Operation Sindoor environment, with officers being trained to control and shape narratives.
The exercise used a customised application designed to replicate a social media platform and simulate the rapid flow of information through news outlets and digital platforms. Officers were divided into teams and required to respond to simulated military claims, social media posts and emerging situations in real time.
The training required officers from the three services to prepare immediate media statements, counter posts attributed to adversaries and non-state actors, and anticipate emerging information scenarios. The exercise covered conventional warfare, counter-insurgency operations, grey-zone conflicts and crises beyond India’s immediate borders.
The initiative was conducted by the Chief of Defence Staff’s office in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), a defence think tank. The training reflects New Delhi’s growing realisation that future conflicts will involve an intense battle for public perception and decision-making alongside conventional military operations.
The development assumes significance as Pakistan’s response to Indian claims during Operation Sindoor challenged New Delhi’s narrative about the outcome of the confrontation. The difficulties faced by India on the information front subsequently became a major concern for its military leadership.
In an attempt to recover what it lost on the battlefield and counter adverse narratives, New Delhi has also ordered the creation of a tri-service defence strategic communication unit, underlining the growing importance it attaches to information warfare.
The latest training demonstrates that India now views narrative warfare as a critical component of future conflicts. Its focus on when to respond, when to remain silent and how to shape information in real time reflects New Delhi’s growing concern that military outcomes can increasingly be influenced by the battle for public perception.
