ISLAMABAD: The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad, on Friday hosted a seminar under the title of ‘Shifting Battlefields: Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Character of Warfare in South Asia’. This event convened leading experts from the defence, technology, and academic sectors to highlight the transformative role of emerging technologies in modern warfare, with a special focus on South Asia.
Senior Director at CASS, Air Marshal Farooq Habib (Retd), opened the seminar by emphasizing the unpredictability and complexity of technological evolution in military contexts, a press release said. He stressed the necessity for Pakistan’s defence sector to adapt and evolve in response to new advancements to maintain tactical and strategic superiority.
According to the press release, former President of the National Defense University Lieutenant General Aamer Riaz (Retd) highlighted the profound influence of technological advancements on warfare. He predicted a technological upheaval, underlining the need for strategic adaptation to innovations in AI, space, cyber, and more. He urged for a revision of traditional warfare strategies to include new technologies that are redefining conflict dynamics.
Fawad Zahir, a Defence and Strategic Studies Expert, highlighted the significance of airpower, quantum computing, enhanced by big data analysis, and Machine Learning. He emphasized robust civil-military collaboration to harness technological advancements for defence purposes.
Chairman of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence Prof. Dr Yasar Ayaz underlined AI’s potential to revolutionize warfare, marking it the 3rd major evolution after gunpowder and nuclear power. He stressed the significance of indigenous development of AI technologies to ensure technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
Mr Khawaja Mohammad Ali, a Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, and Data Privacy expert, mentioned the key role of cyber operations in modern conflict, advocating for the establishment of a national cybersecurity authority; cyber diplomacy; extensive training and awareness programmes; and indigenous development in cybersecurity solutions.
Senior Journalist and Columnist, Zarar Khurro, highlighted strategic significance of narrative building in the context of advanced technological warfare. He underlined the long-term process of narrative construction facilitated by technology, pointing to the need for authenticity and the immense impact of social media on public opinion.
