Afghanistan and the Battle for the Control of Public Perceptions: Understanding the Insurgents´ “Strategic Communications” Campaign

The author wants to counter some of today’s informed opinion, especially where that tends to be dismissive of the afghan insurgents’ systematic approach to information activities, when argues that the structure and strategy of the insurgency reveals an adversary fully engaged in strategic planning and coordination action in all domains, in particular in strategic communications, which plays a central role in all stages of their operations. The insurgents actively plan their kinetic actions to support the nonkinetic campaign deliberately to function in and affect the cognitive domain. In doing so, the insurgents have created a sophisticated apparatus to engage in the battle for the control of public perceptions of the war. The insurgents fully articulate their narrative with well chosen themes and messages, which intend to reach out and influence Afghan and Muslim population minds worldwide.