By Tanveer Ahmad Meo

In recent years, Indian media outlets and affiliated think tanks have increasingly used the military term “center of gravity” when referring to Pakistan. On the surface, the phrase seems technical, drawn from the lexicon of classical military theory. In reality, its use reflects a deeper and more deliberate psychological strategy — one that seeks to identify, exploit, and weaken the core strengths upon which Pakistan’s survival, sovereignty, and deterrence depend.

1- Understanding the Concept of Center of Gravity

The idea of a center of gravity originates from Carl von Clausewitz, the 19th-century Prussian strategist who defined it as “the hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends.” In conventional warfare, it refers to the point whose destruction or neutralization would collapse an enemy’s ability to fight.

In modern hybrid and fifth-generation warfare, however, the center of gravity extends far beyond the battlefield. It now includes national will, ideology, leadership credibility, economic stability, and information control — elements that hold a state together and allow it to project power.

Thus, when Indian commentators speak of Pakistan’s “center of gravity,” they are not referring to tanks or territory but to the moral, institutional, and ideological foundations that give Pakistan cohesion.

2. Weaponizing the Term in Media Warfare

Indian media often functions as a strategic instrument rather than a neutral observer. By framing Pakistan’s center of gravity as its military establishment, Islamic ideological identity, or civil-military relationship, Indian narratives attempt to plant the notion that weakening these pillars would dismantle Pakistan from within.

This rhetorical tactic aligns with India’s broader information warfare doctrine, which combines psychological operations, propaganda, and narrative manipulation to influence perceptions inside Pakistan and abroad.

Through aggressive talk shows, editorials, and digital campaigns, Indian outlets attempt to:

Delegitimize Pakistan’s armed forces and national institutions.
Create internal doubt and distrust among the population.
Undermine Pakistan’s deterrence credibility by portraying it as unstable or aggressive.
Such information attacks represent a shift from kinetic to cognitive warfare — a battlefield of minds rather than soldiers.

3. Pakistan’s True Center of Gravity
Despite external narratives, Pakistan’s real center of gravity does not lie in a single institution or weapon system. It lies in a triad of strength that has sustained the country since 1947:
1. Ideological Foundation — The belief that Pakistan was created to safeguard a distinct Islamic identity remains its moral compass and source of legitimacy.
2. National Unity and Will of the People — The collective resolve of Pakistanis to defend their homeland against aggression, terrorism, and propaganda is an unmatched asset.
3. Armed Forces and Strategic Deterrence — Pakistan’s disciplined military structure and credible nuclear capability ensure sovereignty and prevent external coercion.
These three components together constitute a living center of gravity — ideological, psychological, and military — that defines Pakistan’s ability to endure crises and resist external manipulation.

4. The Media Front as a Modern Battlefield
In today’s interconnected world, information has become both a weapon and a target. Indian media’s aggressive posture against Pakistan is designed to erode public morale and international confidence. By constantly framing Pakistan’s institutions as the “problem,” Indian media seeks to fracture the bond between the people and the state.
This is not spontaneous journalism — it is part of hybrid warfare, where the lines between news, propaganda, and psychological operations are blurred.
The objective is clear: to attack Pakistan’s perceptional center of gravity, making citizens question their faith in leadership, ideology, and purpose.

5. Building Pakistan’s Strategic Resilience

Pakistan must treat the information domain as a national security front. Strengthening its internal center of gravity requires a comprehensive approach:
Narrative Security : Develop and project a coherent national story rooted in faith, unity, and discipline.
Strategic Communication : Synchronize government, media, and academic voices to counter hostile propaganda.
Public Awareness : Promote media literacy and national resilience through education and civic initiatives.
Diplomatic Engagement : Expose disinformation campaigns at international forums to maintain narrative balance.
By combining ideological conviction with technological sophistication, Pakistan can transform its vulnerabilities into strengths.

6. Conclusion : Defending the Soul of the Nation

The term “center of gravity” is not merely a concept from military textbooks; it is a reflection of what makes a nation survive under pressure. For Pakistan, that center is neither a building nor a weapon — it is the bond between faith, people, and the state.
Indian media’s use of this term as a threat underscores a deeper anxiety: that Pakistan’s strength lies not only in its arsenal but in its unyielding resilience and identity.
In this new age of hybrid conflict, defending Pakistan’s center of gravity means defending truth against distortion, unity against division, and faith against fear.
When the enemy seeks your center, protect your soul — for that is where nations truly live .

Tanveer Ahmad — Lecturer, Security Studies, University of the Punjab
Research Analyst , South Asian Strategic Affairs