Mind Wars: ‘China Is The Bigger Adversary’

Maj Gen P.K. Mallick, author of Mind-Wars: The New Battlefield of Information Warfare, says the manipulation of perception and cognition has become central to modern conflict, even though the concept itself is centuries old.

Speaking about his book, Mallick said his interest in information warfare dates back to the mid-1990s, when he served as a staff officer in Baramulla and later as an instructor at the Military College of Telecommunication. “After the first Gulf War, this term information warfare got into prominence,” he said, adding that his formation was tasked with producing a comprehensive paper on the subject at a time when access to digital resources was limited.

“That is when I got interested in this subject, and I’ve been writing on this for a long time,” Mallick said, noting that he has previously authored a book on information, cyber and space warfare, and contributed chapters to multiple publications.

Mallick argues that information warfare predates modern technology. He cited examples from the Mahabharata, including the deaths of Bhishma and Dronacharya, which he said occurred because “information was used as a weapon.” He also pointed to the role of psychological operations in historical campaigns, from the Mongol Empire to the world wars.

Referring to the 1971 Bangladesh war, Mallick said pamphlets and radio broadcasts were used to urge Pakistani troops to surrender, assuring them of humane treatment under the Geneva Conventions. “From that onwards, today it is individualization of war,” he said, describing how in the Ukraine conflict, soldiers and their families are directly targeted through social media messaging.

“The means of delivery of information has changed over the years,” Mallick said. “But the major thing remains that you have to influence the mind. That is why I said mind wars.”

In the book, Mallick examines information warfare practices in Pakistan, China and Russia. He described Russia’s approach as highly articulated and aggressive, often described as “reflexive control.” China, he said, is “the new kid in the block” and operates both aggressively in places such as Taiwan and Hong Kong and subtly through cultural institutions and international organisations.

“Ultimately it is China that is the bigger adversary,” Mallick said.

On India’s preparedness, Mallick said the country has demonstrated operational success in conflicts such as Balakot, but “in the information warfare sphere, we failed miserably.” He said India lacks a sustained structure for conducting information warfare.

He recommended a centralized organization involving multiple stakeholders, including the military, intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and legal authorities, possibly under the National Security Council Secretariat. Such a body, he said, must be empowered with resources and staffed by professionals, including psychologists and social scientists.

Mallick stressed that information warfare alone cannot win wars. “The information warfare in itself will never win you a war,” he said. “This has to be complementary with hard power.”  The book is published by Pentagon Press.