FOR over four decades in military service and intelligence assignments, I witnessed conflict in its rawest and most complex forms, from the Soviet–Afghan War to the protracted campaigns that followed the September 11 attacks. These wars were not fought merely for territory or tactical advantage; they were contests of ideology, shifting alliances and strategic positioning in an evolving global order. The Afghan war theatre demonstrated that modern conflict is rarely confined to the battlefield. Allies cooperated against a common adversary while simultaneously shaping the post-war order to their advantage. Economic leverage, narrative control and proxy management operated alongside military operations. The line between war and statecraft blurred in ways that continue to shape global politics today.

When the Cold War ended, many believed great-power rivalry had concluded. In reality, it evolved into more sophisticated forms. Financial systems became instruments of pressure, information became a weapon and instability was sometimes structured rather than accidental. Wars are now seldom declared formally; they unfold gradually through economic coercion, cyber activity, political influence and disinformation. Recent decades have shown how sanctions can weaken economies, how global supply chains can be disrupted for strategic leverage and how digital platforms can amplify narratives that reshape political outcomes. Today’s threats operate below the threshold of conventional war and often target cohesion rather than territory. Hybrid conflict blends military posture with economic pressure, digital disruption and narrative warfare. It succeeds not by invading borders, but by eroding public trust, deepening divisions and weakening national confidence.........

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