Updated as of July 2022. Following Current Affairs notes are prepared by Shanza Faiq (47th CTP, CSS 2018 Topper, FSP).
Topics covered in this blog are-
- Hybrid Warfare
- UNSC’s Veto Power
- Pak-Afghan ties
- Analyzing Foreign Policy
- Geopolitical Trends in South Asia
- the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
Hybrid Warfare
Definition: Usage of kinetic and non-kinetic options to offset conventional power dynamics. Includes spreading disinformation, propaganda, economic coercion, backing proxy militia, cyberattacks to achieve strategic objectives.
Why is it used?
- Leads to de-stability, demoralization and disintegration.
- Used due to high cost of men and material.
- Ambiguity and deniability which means no fear of retribution
- Exercise subtle power
- Nuclear weapons have made conventional warfare riskier
- Keep Pakistan politically and economically unstable
- Domestic voting power for Hindutva intoxicated BJP
How does India use it?
- Spread propaganda and diplomatic sabotage; EU Disinfo Lab
- Funding and training of separatist militia
- Economic subversion by politicizing international bodies such as FATF
- UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances
- Build narrative amongst Kashmiri Muslims that Pakistan is a failed state and that partition was a mistake
- Indian Muslims are superior to Pakistanis and Bangladeshis
- Impression that India wants peace but Pakistan army does – Musharraf 4’s point formula on Kashmir thwarted due to Army’s funding of 2008 Mumbai attack
- Portrayed that Pakistan’s defence spending is illogical as Pakistan needs to spend on development
- Exploiting Pakistan’s fault lines; Baluchistan and CPEC
- Linking Pakistan to Taliban at international level and saying Pakistan does not want peace
- FATF grey list
Cost to Pakistan:
- Prevents Pakistan’s rise in power of Kashmir
- Pressurizing Pakistan to settle on India’s terms in issues like Siachen and Sir Creek
- Economically destabilized and dependent, high defence budget, weak ties with USA
What can Pakistan do?
- Employ a well-calibrated strategy across every platform and understand nature of hybrid warfare
- Good governance based on deliverables
- Realize potential of CPEC
- Multilateralism based on sound and healthy bilateral relations
- Develop counternarrative to India’s ‘talks and terrorism cannot go side by side’
- Develop policy-based discussions between govt and media and have more English news channels to portray positive image of Pakistan
- Use civil society, media and academia
What have we done?
- UNGA unanimously adopted Pakistan’s draft resolution targeting disinformation
Related MCQs
- British Viceroy who was considered the architect of the Partition of Bengal? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Lord Canning
Lord Dufferin
Lord Minto
Lord CurzonSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Hear & See, Flower & Flour, Sell & Cell are the examples of? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Homophone
Homograph
Eggcorn
OxymoronSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Which of the options below correctly combines the following two sentences into a compound sentence? • The sky was clear • The Sun was setting. (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
The sky was clear while the sun was setting.
The sky was clear, for the sun was setting.
The sky was clear, and the sun was setting.
None of the given options.Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The largest division of Pakistan in terms of its area is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Malakand, KPK
Bahawalpur, Punjab
Rakhshan, Balochistan
Hyderabad, SindhSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The meaning of the idiom \'Make a beeline\' is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Go straight to
Stand in a queue
Look for freebies
Put the bees in lineSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The study of the relationship between environment and organism is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Gerontology
Ecology
Lithography
EntomologySubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
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Decay
Calculate
Increase
SupportSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- River Kunhar flows through the Kaghan Valley and joins which river? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Kabul River
Chenab River
Ravi River
Jhelum RiverSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Which one of the following sentences is grammatically wrong? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
I gave Sarah a ride to work this morning.
My friend Ismail and me went to the party.
Before we left, Farah and I said goodbye to the host.
Samra accidentally hit me with her bag.Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Change the following sentence from Indirect to Direct Speech: “My friend requested me to bring him a sandwich.” (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
\"Please bring me a sandwich\", said my friend.
He said, \"My friend, please bring me a sandwich.\"
\"Please bring my friend a sandwich\", said he.
My friend said, \"Will you bring me a sandwich\".Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Change the following sentence from Direct to Indirect speech: The doctor said to the patient, \"How do you feel now\"? Has the pain gone down\"? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
The doctor asked the patient how he was feeling then and if the pain was down.
The doctor asked the patient how he felt then and if the pain had gone down.
The doctor asked the patient how he had felt when the pain was gone.
The doctor asked the patient how he is feeling now and if the pain has gone down.Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The Indian Councils Act 1861 established the Legislative Councils in the presidencies of? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Calcutta and Delhi
Calcutta and Madras
Delhi and Lucknow
Bombay and MadrasSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The meaning of the idiom \"Talking twenty to the dozen\" is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Talking too much
Talking out of turn
Talking without making any sense
Talking rapidly and without stopping.Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Matter written by hand is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Ascription
Conscript
Manuscript
ScriptwriterSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Harappa is located on the banks of which river? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Sutlej River
Chenab River
Ravi River
Indus RiverSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Bakhar Fort is located in which province? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Sindh
Punjab
Balouchistan
Khyber PakhtunkhwaSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The antonym of the word “Hapless” is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Countless
Fortunate
Woeful
IntensitySubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Change the voice of the following sentence: Rain disrupted the last day’s play between Pakistan and Australia. (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
The last day’s play of Pakistan and Australia was disrupted by rain.
Pakistan and Australia’s play of the last day as disrupted by rain.
The last day’s play between Pakistan and Australia was disrupted by rain.
The last day’s play between Pakistan and Australia were disrupted by rain.Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Change the following sentence from Direct to Indirect speech: He asked his teacher, \"Need I read this chapter\"? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
He asked his teacher whether there was a need to read that chapter.
He asked his teacher whether he needed to read that chapter.
He asked his teacher if it was necessary to read this chapter.
He asked his teacher if he had to read that chapter.Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Change the following sentence from Indirect to Direct speech: “The porter respectfully assured the lady that he would take care of her luggage while she bought her tickets.” (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
The porter said, “I would take care of your baggage while you buy your ticket, Madam.”
The porter said, “I will take care of your baggage while you buy your ticket, Madam.”
The porter said, “I would take care of your baggage while you bought your ticket, Madam.”
The porter said to the lady, “I would take care of your baggage while you bought your ticket.”Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The national anthem of Pakistan was officially adopted in? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
1948
1950
1954
1952Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The _________ reply of my sister conveyed the clear message that she was not happy with me. (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Vivacious
Sinuous
Gentle
TerseSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Change the voice of the following sentence: Can those happy moments be ever forgotten by me? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
Shall I ever forget those happy moments?
Can I ever forget those happy moments?
Will I ever forget those happy moments?
Could I ever forget those happy moments?Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
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Audacious
Calm
Affable
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Abhorrent
Frank
Exile
DelightSubmitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team