ISLAMABAD: The Arms Control and Disarmament Centre (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised the launch of the book, “India’s Hybrid Warfare: Implications for Pakistan’s National Security”, authored by Dr Muhammad Ali.
Ambassador Sardar Masood Khan, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, was the chief guest on the occasion, while Gen Zubair Mehmood Hayat, NI(M), HI(M) (retd), delivered the keynote address.
The event was also addressed by Maj Gen Dr Ehsan Mahmood Khan (retd), former Director General ISSRA; Prof Dr Tughral Yamin, Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad; Dr Asma Shakir Khawaja, Executive Director of CISS AJK; Amb Moin ul Haque, Director General ISSI; Malik Qasim Mustafa; and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood.
In his remarks, Amb Sardar Masood Khan said the book offered a valuable academic examination of the theoretical construct of hybrid warfare. He observed that hybrid warfare was not a new concept, as similar methods had existed during medieval periods. He stressed that national integration was an essential element of statecraft and said Pakistan must address both external and internal challenges while remaining prepared to counter hybrid threats.
Gen Zubair Mehmood Hayat (retd), in his keynote address, praised the author for the timely publication. He said a significant change in India’s policy outlook towards Pakistan had been influenced by the Doval Doctrine, where the new frontier was civil society and which advocated offensive and defensive measures against Pakistan.
He stated that hybrid warfare was no longer merely a theoretical concept, but an evolving and practical method of conflict. He further observed that no society could remain great, or even survive, if it lost “hope” and “faith” in itself. By damaging people’s confidence in their national identity, he said, an adversary could weaken a nation without engaging it in conventional warfare.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Amb Moin ul Haque lauded the book as an important contribution to understanding evolving security challenges. He said modern warfare had become increasingly complex and multidimensional, adding that hybrid warfare sought to achieve strategic objectives without crossing the threshold of declared war. He also commended the author for offering actionable recommendations to strengthen Pakistan’s response to threats to its national security.
Malik Qasim Mustafa, in his introductory remarks, commended Dr Ali for his evidence-based analysis of India’s hybrid warfare against Pakistan. He underlined the need for a comprehensive whole-of-nation response based on stronger coordination, national cohesion, effective governance and media resilience.
Maj Gen Dr Ehsan Mahmood Khan (retd) said the conventional battlefield had not disappeared and would continue to remain relevant. However, he noted, it was now overlapped by other domains of conflict, including cyber, economic and psychological warfare.
Prof Dr Tughral Yamin said Pakistan needed to develop a comprehensive national response to hybrid warfare. Dr Asma Shakir Khawaja, in her remarks, highlighted the significance of knowledge in empowering societies and countering cognitive biases and disinformation. She described the research study as timely and said it contributed to a deeper understanding of the subject.
In his vote of thanks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood highlighted how India employed diplomatic pressure, disinformation and narrative manipulation to undermine Pakistan’s international standing. He said Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role and institutional resilience had enabled it to withstand these pressures and strengthen its global position.
Dr Muhammad Ali is an alumnus of the National Defence University, Islamabad, where he studied public policy and strategic security. He later joined the Islamia University Bahawalpur, from where he completed his PhD in 2024. He has also gained experience during his stints at educational institutions in the UK, China and Saudi Arabia, which enabled him to develop a diverse view of global defence and security matters.
