Takeaways From the Seema Haider Case Vis-a-Vis National Security
The Seema Haider case has become a media sensation over the last few days, as the nation has been witnessing the unusual story of the Pakistani-origin woman who illegally entered India to be with her love interest, Sachin Meena, a Noida resident. Many shocking details about this case have been revealed by Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terror Squad, who wasted no time in taking her into custody for a thorough investigation. The ATS eventually found six passports that were being held by Seema, which virtually hints that she is a Pakistani ISI asset who is illegally living in Delhi’s NCR region. While all the media channels are busy presenting their own narratives of this story, there are many takeaways from the Seema Haider case that highlight the threat to our national and cyber security, and it is crucial that we understand them for our own awareness and safety.
Showcases the dangers of the digital world and online gaming
Seema Haider had met her partner Sachin in the online gaming app PUBG, which is incidentally a Chinese-origin app. As per the media reports, Seema entered India via Nepal with Sachin’s support after he fell for her. This should be a lesson for all of us, especially those who interact with people across borders on such online apps, to be extremely cautious while dealing with them. Ideally, we must avoid interacting or sharing personal information with strangers on social media and such gaming platforms. You never know the hidden realities behind that person, and just how dangerous it can be to associate with them. While Sachin Meena may or may not be involved in any conspiracy, he is today being questioned by the security authorities and being criticised all over the country because of this incident.
It is likely one of many such cases in India
We must also remember that the reason why the Seema Haider case caught the media attention is only because Sachin deliberately or accidentally revealed that Seema hails from Pakistan. All these events led to Seema getting caught by the police and taken into custody for further interrogation. Otherwise, she may have never been caught and might have continued her suspicious activities and objectives if entering India illegally. But the real concern that this case highlights is that there may be many other such individuals who may have entered India illegally, which includes spies or even terrorists. If India wants to keep its citizens protected against our hostile neighbours in the west and the north, its governments and security agencies will have to safeguard not just the borders but also its cyberspace and data like never before.
Part of non-military warfare against India
Since ancient times, wars between two or more kingdoms or countries used to be fought on the battleground using conventional weapons. However, in this digital era, social media and gaming platforms have become today’s battlegrounds and people like Seema Haider, who use cunning tactics to infiltrate India for suspicious reasons, are the weapons of enemies like Pakistan and China, who do not have any positive intentions for India. Trying to smear India’s image on social media, causing chaos and violence within the country using triggering narratives, and sending people like Seema Haider across the border using online gaming are some of the many ways in which Pakistan is waging non-military warfare against India. This kind of warfare is often referred to as unconventional or fifth-generation warfare by military and security experts. We must equip ourselves accordingly and be ready for this unconventional warfare against our neighbours, so that we can remain safe from all kinds of internal and external security threats that we face today.
Image source: PTI
