Information Warfare: How Narratives & Perception Shape Modern Conflict | Lt Gen Hasnain |DEFCON 2026

Wars are no longer fought on the battlefield alone. In the age of hybrid and grey-zone warfare, information, narratives and perception have become powerful tools that can shape conflicts without a conventional military confrontation.At CNN-News18’s DEFCON 2026 Defence Conclave, Lt Gen S.A. Hasnain (Retd), defence expert, explains the growing importance of information warfare and how it operates within modern hybrid and grey-zone conflicts.Drawing on Sun Tzu’s emphasis on deception, Lt Gen Hasnain examines how information can influence public perception, shape strategic narratives and affect decision-making during conflict. He also explains why strategic communication, information awareness and the ability to counter competing narratives are increasingly important elements of national security.From battlefield operations to the digital information environment, modern conflicts increasingly involve efforts to influence what people see, believe and understand. Information warfare can therefore operate alongside conventional military capabilities, cyber operations, diplomacy and other instruments of state power.Watch this insightful session from DEFCON 2026 as Lt Gen S.A. Hasnain breaks down the changing nature of warfare and explains why controlling narratives and communicating strategically have become central to modern defence and security. n18oc_indiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube