Indian Fourth Generation Warfare and Pakistan’s Response

Abstract

With the start of 21st century, warfare has changed fundamentally. In the Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW), military does not have the sole decisive utility, here war is waged with means other than military. In the fourth generation warfare, war is not amongst the people, it is a war of the people. The paper argues that due to divergent strategic interests, hegemonic tendencies, geopolitical competition and unresolved conflicts, India has adopted a sustained policy of violence to bring chaos in Pakistan. From Sundar Ji Doctrine of 1980s to current Modi-Doval Doctrine, India is pursuing a strategy of keeping Pakistan bleeding through thousand cuts. Indian effort to train, nurture and equip separatist and dissident elements in Pakistan is not a hidden secret after the Kalbushan Jadav testimony on media. This paper is an attempt to find the answer of the question that how India has waged a 4GW against Pakistan and how Pakistan has responded to it? For this enquiry, qualitative research methodology with more focus on document analysis based on secondary literature surveys has been employed. The theoretical framework of this study is based on the constructs of realism. This study concludes that Pakistan Armed Forces have been successful to control the ravages of this warfare but the govt. needs to work on those vulnerable areas which could further be used by India to extend its interests in the country.