Fifth- Generation War

A war within: harder to fight, hardest to understand (be lose the battle to win the war)

Prof. Dr Munawar Sabir

‘Fifth generation war’ (5GW) has become a talk of the town in Pakistan, especially being its victim in a full-fledged manner. However, before understanding what a Fifth-Generation war is, it is important to understand the previous four generations of war.

 In First Generation wars, only armies fought face to face with swords and other short-range weapons. Such wars were usually fought away from human settlements and without involving any civilians. In Second Generation Wars, use of weapons, especially explosives, was the distinctive feature. World War 1 is believed to be a prime example of such wars owing to use of long-range weapons. Civilians were also hit in such wars. In Third Generation Wars, alongside the ground troops, air and naval forces were also used. In 3GW, the loss of civilian population and installations increased due to the evolution of large urban centers and involvement of air force. WW2 is considered a vivid example of this war. India-Pakistan war of 1965 is another example of 3GW. Next comes the fourth-generation war in which use of psychological, economic and propaganda warfare, along with conventional war methods, were also used. Almost a same technique is called hybrid war (India-Pakistan war of 1971 is a notable example of hybrid war). In 4GW, civilian groups were/are trained and funded to fight against a trained army. Cold war in general and wars in Afghanistan, Vietnam and more recently in Yemen in particular, are considered typical examples of 4GW. It is pertinent to mention here that proxy war is also a subtype or a technique of 4GW.

Then comes—so far, the latest—the Fifth-Generation war which is like a silent, smooth, sweet and slow yet swift poison. The 5GW is fought keeping in view, and using all possible techniques of, previous generation (4GW), especially hybrid war, with addition of latest tools and techniques, e.g. media, in-depth and subtle use of cultural war. Its purpose is to demoralize the targeted army and nation. One distinctive feature of 5GW is that, whole the nation is targeted under the philosophy of WHOSOEVR, WHATEVER, WHEREVER and HOWSOEVER. This war is Unannounced, Unrestricted, Confused and Camouflaged, and the target is surprised by creating a vortex of destruction. Those who wage such a war do not hesitate even to create artificial natural calamities. The fundamental targets of such war include: creating a rift between the target army and the nation, demoralizing them, creating economic instability (devaluation of currency, artificial shortages of commodities, economic sanctions,) isolating the nation in international community etc. The core objective of 5GW is to make an army to surrender without fighting. In order to do so, the army of the targeted country is engaged to fight on multiple fronts, inner and outer. Pseudo groups are formed by providing them with heavy amounts and training. Such groups orchestrate terrorist attacks that inflict heavy losses in men and money. Being local persons, such the perpetrators of such attacks easily disappear in local population/settlements (sleeper cells). Such groups create and fight on the lines of a proxy war. More so, measures of Limited War and Surgical Strikes are also carried out, if and when needed.

A good military always remains aware and cautious of every possible attack by its enemy. This is called “Fingertip Feeling or Gut Feeling’—also called “The Ability to know Without Thinking”. In 5GW, efforts are made to reduce or eliminate this capability. For this purpose, militant and terrorist activities are carried out throughout the country on such large scale and magnitude that it becomes difficult or too late for the defender army to determine whether it is in a state of war. Even if they know that they are in a state of war, it is difficult to determine ‘who to fight against’. In other words, in 5GW, an organized and known army fights an unknown and invisible enemy. Such horizontal plus vertical multi-layered complexed situation is better called ‘Fog of War’.

Next—rather parallel—step of 5GW is psychological front(s). In this regard, media is a powerful and most-frequently-used tool (24/7). Media is used as a “Weapon of Mass Deception “. Media houses and or media persons of the opponent country are hired, or even purchased, to broadcast deceptive, anarchist, confusing and demoralizing stuff. Anchorpersons, writers and media-owners are made to write or broadcast anti-state material. They try to diffuse thoughts and ideas which are against even the values and beliefs of the nation they are from. Similarly, they consistently highlight non-issues in a bid to create sensationalism. For this purpose, they ridicule dignified personalities, ideas and even religion. One such typical example in Pakistan is that of a known writer and speaker who openly calls Sir Dr Allama Muhamamd Iqbal ‘a local-level poet’. They are bribed and lured through all possible means, e.g. foreign tours, lectures (for which they are paid heavily), and so on. According to an expert, such media persons ‘rape the minds of people’. They help to create a situation of confusion, chaos and conflict in the targeted nation. They use their expertise of being big and bold liars to twist the national issues in negative sense–for that, they are aptly called ‘Spin Masters’. Along with regular media Social media, better called’ counter media”, has also emerged as a dominating tool or weapon of 5GW.This is called Cyber front of this war and people engaged or waging war through this front are called cyber force. With the help of cyber soldiers fake news, anti- state sentiments, sectarian violence is projected, as a western organization has revealed that thousands of Indian backed fake firms are working against Pakistan on social media. Basically, all forms of Media operate under the philosophy of “Perceptions are stronger than realities”.

Next agents or actors of 5GW are the corrupt political elite who try to cause a political turmoil and bring economy under heavy debts. They use, or more rightly abuse, foreign loans for their own ill gains. They receive heavy kickbacks, embezzle huge amounts, recruit competent persons mainly their own relatives. All such activities weaken and destroy the economic muscle of a state. Such corrupt elite, according to their role, is called ‘Political Prostitutes’.

Experts believe that soon after the demise of the former USSR, Western countries under the command of USA, have brought Muslim countries under attack one by one by using all possible methods and weapons of 5GW. They have done so under the cruel contours of New World Order, War on Terror and self-perceived Clash of Civilizations. As a matter of fact, Clash of Civilizations has proved to be an attack of (Western) Civilization on Islamic civilization/countries. Pakistan is also a crucial and clear sufferer and a complete case study of Fifth- Generation War.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

                    Nothing is permanent but change and War, and change itself is a WAR

                     WAR is permanent; Peace is only a pause to prepare for the next