The development of technology has enhanced the challenge of asymmetric warfare for India. Analyse.

Asymmetric warfare is one where there is no direct clash between two sides, rather there is crippling of an opponent even without fighting through terrorism, cyber attacks, etc.

Types:

• State sponsored terrorism
• Tabnabbing
• Whaling
• Vishing
• Phishing
• Denial of service
• Worms
• Malware
• Viruses
• Paid social media

Such incidents have been rising past few years both domestically and globally:

• Denial of service attack at Mumbai power plant by Chinese hackers.
• Terror sponsored by ISI and non-state actors in J&K.
• Instances of drug smuggling through drones in Punjab.
• Attack on payment aggregators.
• Increasing cybercrime.
• Cambridge analytica case.
• Cyber attack on Iran’s nuclear power plant.

It is rightly said that the best warfare is one where you don’t have to fight. Advanced technology and its lower cost can threaten India’s security:

• Ever increasing digital dependence.
• Sovereignty of security equipments, nuclear details and satellites is endangered.
• Economy can be crippled through stock exchange manipulation.

Thus, there is a need for a more forward looking threat assessment coupled with timely response.