Attack on India: Informational and Psychological Warfare along with Bombs

                                                                    - Col Sanjay Mani Pradhan, Veteran

 

The bomb blasts in Delhi on November 10, 2025, have once again shaken the heart of India. Thirteen innocent civilians lost their lives, dozens were injured. But this is not just a blast — this is a second-of-its-kind war being waged on India. A war in which weapons of information, confusion, and propaganda are being used, not bullets.

Today, India is being attacked not only physically, but also informationally and mentally.  Another war that has been waged immediately after the explosion is the War of Perception, the aim of which is to force India to doubt its own country, its institutions, and its own security. The biggest threat to India today is information warfare, where multiple agencies (both domestic and foreign) are manipulating public perception and weakening our social cohesion.  No nation can defeat India militarily. However, if India is divided psychologically, it will be easier to wage war. The battlefield for psychological warfare is the minds of the citizens.

Attacks from both internal and external fronts

From the moment the bomb exploded in Delhi, hundreds of bots and the fake accounts started playing the same old script again — “This is an inside job,” “It’s a government distraction,” “It’s an election stunt,” etc.  Within hours, Pakistan also made the ridiculous accusation that India itself had carried out the blasts in Delhi and also in Islamabad.

The point to be made here is that the current government did not care about its image during recent major movements like the farmers' movement and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests and not even during the recent Leh dispute. Does the government really need to detonate bombs to divert attention from the air pollution (AQI) protests? Even more ridiculous — now it is being said, “The explosion was done to win the Bihar elections.

If the election has already been rigged, and they are accusing the Election Commission of being on the side of the government, why would the government do anything to make itself look weak?

The style of terror has changed

In the past, terrorist groups would proudly claim responsibility after each attack — to show their power, to spread fear. But now they don't need that. Because after a blast, some influential people in India like journalists, influencers, and some so-called intellectuals  do the work of terrorists themselves.  When an explosion occurs, they start by saying — “It’s a government ploy, an incident to divert public attention.” Pakistan or other opposing forces watch with complacency.  Because they know  they don't have to invest much in spreading confusion in our society anymore. One explosion and we'll do the rest ourselves — by spreading doubt, mistrust, and fear.

The enemy is now within

Today's war is not limited to borders. The enemy is now inside our homes, inside our minds, on our mobile screens.  In the language that divides us, in the news that makes us distrustful, in the misleading narrative that questions our military and security forces. The real threat is no longer the guns outside, but the pens and tweets inside — Those who raise slogans against their country and cover it up in the name of “freedom of expression.”

 The line between dissent and treason

It is not wrong to question the government. They must be questioned. It is also natural to dislike a political party. But when that disagreement reaches the point of questioning the very existence of the country, when that criticism turns into hatred for the nation, then that critic is no longer a "revolutionary" but a pawn caught in the enemy's game. It would be dangerous to delay understanding that now. 

Information War: Psychological Attack

The main goal of the psychological attack being carried out on India today is to break our morale. To destroy our confidence and unity.  To spread distrust in our security forces. To make us feel that our government lies, our military plays tricks, and our sacrifices are meaningless. This war is a battle between truth and illusion.  This is not just a political or military issue — it has now become a spiritual warfare. Because the enemy is not trying to capture our soil, but our hearts. Now India must write its own story.  Now is the time for us to write our own story, our own truth, in our own voice. Not a story written by others — we must reveal the truth that we have experienced in our own lives. When someone accuses India, we must respond with truth and logic, not anger.  When someone makes false propaganda about the military or the country, it should be challenged with facts and evidence, not anger. We need soldiers to protect our borders, but more than that, we need warriors to protect our information borders.  Every conscious and patriotic Indian citizen is a warrior in this information war today. Our responsibility will be to question those who spread lies, present facts to dispel illusions, and spread messages that inspire confidence.  If someone points a finger at India, that one finger should be answered with ten fingers of truth with patriotism, not anger, but with wisdom because  those who are trying to portray India as weak today are not just talking—they are trying to undermine the foundations of our civilization. 

This is not the time to remain silent.

 India cannot remain a silent spectator. We must speak up for the truth. We must restore faith in our institutions, our military. We must understand the difference between “criticism” and “destruction”.  Today, we are not just defending a country, but an idea — the idea of ​​‘One India, One Nation’. The army is ready to protect the borders of the country, now let us also be ready to protect the borders of our hearts and minds. Let us wear the armour of truth against illusions and lies. Let us be clear that anti-national games will not be played in the name of peace and unity. This is not just a reaction to the blasts in Delhi, it is an awakening—a warning that now we are fighting not just bombs and guns, but also a war of information and psychology.  We will win this war too through the power of truth, unity and patriotism. Power lies not in ammunition and guns alone, but in faith and when 140 crore Indians speak the truth in one voice—no explosion can drown that voice.