This is what happens when you try to hide information. If the exact numbers of the dead, injured, and captured had been disclosed right from the beginning, that would have really helped with international pressure on China.

Because that would have been the overwhelming narrative. Instead, it’s all about perception management now.

They didn’t learn from Balakot, and they will not learn this time either. Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

And frankly, the Government of India and the Indian Army missed a massive opportunity to get the world on its side over the last couple of days, by trying to hide everything.

For all their vaunted and publicised study of mass communication, psy-ops and media management, they have come across as amateurs, unable to devise military or communication strategy. Cue, the next crisis. Repeat.

People like @rwac48 @ajaishukla and @reportersujan have done more to get world opinion to understand the Indian position with their articles and photos - even the one of the nails welded to the rods posted by Shukla on Thursday.

This kind of mass communication and persuasion is more than anything that the army or its proxies have been able to accomplish, through this recent crisis.

Going forward, the army needs to ask itself if it wants to win, or merely offer lip service whilst covering ass or getting emotional. And then, make its decisions accordingly. Also, be clear about who’s running the army.