The war was already underway even before Operation Sindoor took off. Not on the kinetic front, but on the one that unfolds in newsrooms, classrooms, conference halls, and social media feeds. It’s a war of perception, narrative, and legitimacy. Amidst this era of fifth-generation warfare, India’s diaspora isn’t just a bystander — it’s increasingly becoming a front-line force.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, all major Indian diaspora groups organised a protest outside the Pakistani High Commission in London which saw one of the largest Indian diaspora gatherings in the UK. Approx 550–600 Indians gathered outside the Pakistani embassy, all coordinated within a mere 2 days.

A question might arise, “How does a protest even help?” Initially one might think of it as quite a naive question. But upon reflection, one shall realise that this question carried paramount depth. It deserved a serious answer not just out of the emotional vehemence, but also through the gaze of a strategic lens.

And the answer lies in understanding the changing nature of modern conflict. In any confrontation between two nation-states, strategic objectives are typically pursued through two broad channels:

1.Direct and Tangible Interventions

These include diplomatic isolation, sanctions , trade disruptions, and kinetic interventions led by defence forces. These largely lie within the realm of political leadership. They are often visible, quantifiable, and deliberate.

2.Indirect and Intangible Measures

This is where the real complexity of modern warfare emerges. We now live in the era of Fifth-Generation Warfare, where the battlefield isn’t just geographical, it’s psychological. The weapons are narratives, perceptions, and public opinion. In this new theatre, the minds of people—especially those abroad —become strategic ground.

Pakistan’s Information Warfare Playbook

Pakistan being not just a political adversary but also a civilizational one , its doctrine toward India goes beyond mere geopolitics. It is rooted in ideological hostility, including civilizational narratives like Ghazwa-e-Hind a call for total annihilation of Indian civilization. While India largely responds with conventional tools, Pakistan has invested heavily in narrative warfare through the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)—a sprawling propaganda arm of its military.

Here’s how their influence campaign plays out:

● Funding research through proxies in global universities and think tanks.
● Supporting sympathetic journalists, media houses, influencers, and NGOs under the cover of philanthropy.
● Lobbying Western political parties and influencing policymaking at subtle but critical levels

This strategic investment allows Pakistan to shape the global narrative, even whitewashing terrorism. Case in point: the BBC controversially described the Pahalgam attackers as “gunmen,” sanitizing what was, without question, an act of terror.

Why Do Diaspora Protests Matter ?

In this asymmetric conflict, a protest in London is not a side-show but transcends into a strategic act. It performs multiple functions that directly support India’s national interest:

A visible and vocal protest in a global epicenter like London provides a robust counter to Pakistan’s false narratives and forces international media and institutions to reckon with the truth. Moreover , these protests express shared grief and solidarity with the families of fallen soldiers. They make clear that these attacks are not isolated losses—they are a national wound. Political economy terms it as ‘Social Capital’ a force central to pushing the larger empowerment of any society / community. Lastly, as the U.S. President Woodrow Wilson famously observed, it is not merely wealth or weapons that sustain a nation—but willpower.
Diaspora protests are a significant way to contribute towards strengthening the enduring ‘National Will’ globally.

Author: By FISIUK