Modern Warfare: The Visual Proof Behind India-Pakistan Tensions
Introduction: The Age of Proof in Modern Warfare
In the digital age, military operations are no longer confined to the battlefield — they're also scrutinized by satellites, journalists, and global audiences. When India claimed to strike a terrorist camp in Balakot in 2019, or when Pakistan retaliated, the world didn’t just want statements — it demanded visual proof (Reuters, 2019). This need for documentation has led militaries to adopt advanced technologies that capture, verify, and sometimes dispute events in near real-time.
1. Eyes in the Sky: Satellite Imaging
Satellites orbiting above play a key role in modern conflict monitoring. After the Balakot airstrike, international media published high-resolution images from Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies showing structures still intact at the alleged strike site (Reuters, 2019; Planet Labs, 2019).
Such imagery helps analysts compare “before” and “after” shots, verify whether structural damage occurred, and corroborate (or contradict) official statements (BBC News, 2019).
2. Drones and UAVs: Unblinking Aerial Cameras
Drones or UAVs offer militaries real-time surveillance with low risk. India’s use of Heron drones and Pakistan’s deployment of Burraq UAVs are well documented (The Diplomat, 2021; Al Jazeera, 2015). These drones carry infrared and HD cameras that allow forces to track enemy movement, confirm hits, and conduct post-strike analysis.
In the case of India’s 2016 surgical strikes across the LoC, drones were reportedly used to film the operation and monitor the extraction of troops (India Today, 2016).
3. Thermal Imaging: Seeing Through the Smoke
Thermal cameras, which detect heat rather than light, are used to identify humans, vehicles, and equipment through fog, smoke, or foliage. Indian Special Forces reportedly used thermal imaging equipment in the 2016 LoC raids to confirm the presence of militants in camps before engaging (India Today, 2016).
4. Ground Footage: Helmet Cams and Tactical Recordings
Many modern soldiers now wear body cams or attach cameras to helmets or rifles to record operations. These recordings are crucial for after-action reports, training, or evidence (The Hindu, 2020). While such footage is rarely made public, it plays an internal role in military accountability and operational assessment.
5. Radar and SIGINT: Invisible but Crucial
Military operations are also documented through radar tracking and intercepted communications — known as Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). During the 2019 aerial skirmishes between India and Pakistan, radar data was used to track aircraft paths and missile trajectories, even when no visible imagery was available (BBC News, 2019).
6. AI and OSINT: Verifying the Visuals
The rise of open-source intelligence (OSINT) has allowed independent analysts and journalists to verify or challenge government claims. Tools like reverse image search, geolocation, and AI-assisted photo forensics are used to authenticate imagery (Bellingcat, 2020). This was notably applied after the Balakot strikes when discrepancies between different image sets were analyzed publicly.
7. Diplomacy and Media: Shaping Global Opinion
In geopolitical conflicts, visual evidence is as much a diplomatic tool as it is a record of truth. India and Pakistan often release selected images or videos to reinforce their narratives, both domestically and abroad (Brookings, 2019). This has created a parallel battleground in newsrooms and on social media where visual "proof" is debated as intensely as the millitary operations themselves.
References:
Bellingcat. (2020, February 4). A guide to verifying images and videos from conflict zones. https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2020/02/04/guide-to-verifying-images/
BBC News. (2019, February 28). Balakot: What satellite images show about India’s air strike on Pakistan. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47353692
Brookings Institution. (2019, March 1). India and Pakistan: The conflict continues online. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/india-and-pakistan-the-conflict-continues-online/
India Today. (2016, September 30). Thermal imaging and drones used in surgical strikes across LoC. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/surgical-strikes-india-pakistan-loc-thermal-imaging-drones-344003-2016-09-30
Al Jazeera. (2015, March 13). Pakistan unveils locally made armed drone. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/3/13/pakistan-unveils-locally-made-armed-drone
The Diplomat. (2021, August 10). India’s drone capabilities: The real picture. https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/indias-drone-capabilities-the-real-picture/
The Hindu. (2020, February 13). Inside India’s elite Special Forces. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/inside-indias-elite-special-forces/article30812733.ece
Reuters. (2019, March 6). Exclusive: Satellite images show buildings still standing at Indian bomb site. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-kashmir-pakistan-satellite-idUSKCN1QG2FS
Planet Labs. (2019). High-resolution satellite imagery analysis of Balakot strike site [Satellite imagery]. https://www.planet.com
Maxar Technologies. (2019). Balakot strike imagery analysis [Satellite imagery]. https://www.maxar.com
