By: A.R Manj
In a time when war drums are beating louder and louder between two nuclear-armed neighbors, something peculiar is happening on the digital front. Instead of the typical rhetoric of aggression and threats, Pakistanis are responding to the latest escalation in tensions with India — not with war cries, but with memes, jokes, and a defiant sense of humor.
The current geopolitical situation, marked by the attack in Pahalgam, India, and the subsequent cross-border military posturing, could easily lead to a grave confrontation. With India accusing Pakistan of involvement in the Pahalgam tragedy and threatening to cut off Pakistan’s water supply through the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the stakes could not be higher. But as India tightens its stance and escalates its rhetoric, Pakistanis have chosen to confront the threat in a uniquely digital manner. The result? A flood of memes and jokes mocking the very idea of war.
The term “fifth-generation warfare” was coined to describe the modern use of information and cyber tools as a form of conflict. In 2025, it seems that the term has evolved into a phenomenon where the battlefield isn’t confined to borders but sprawls across social media platforms. Pakistanis, with their characteristic resilience, have taken to Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and other online spaces to transform the prospect of war into fodder for humour.
These memes range from light-hearted jabs at India’s potential military moves, to exaggerated scenarios of Bollywood actors invading Pakistan. Others poke fun at Pakistan’s own pressing issues, such as water shortages or the high taxes imposed on phones, playing on the absurdity of the situation. These jokes aren’t necessarily about dismissing the threat, but about coping with the very real anxiety that an escalating situation brings. By laughing at the absurdity of the situation, Pakistanis are in some ways defusing the tension, converting fear into laughter, and uniting a nation in the face of uncertainty.
This reaction is not unprecedented. During the 2019 Pulwama incident, after India blamed Pakistan for a terrorist attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary troops, the situation escalated quickly with the airstrike on Balakot and the subsequent capture of Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman. In the midst of heightened military tensions, Pakistanis turned to humor to cope, and the viral “fantastic tea” meme that followed Abhinandan’s capture became a symbol of how the internet could, in times of crisis, both mock and manage the gravity of a situation. The current meme culture is no different — it mocks the idea of war, while defying those who wish to stoke flames of conflict.
This coping mechanism, however, is not merely a display of wit. It’s an emotional and psychological response to the mounting pressures faced by Pakistanis. From a volatile economy to shortages in basic resources like electricity and water, many Pakistanis are overwhelmed by the daily challenges that come with living in a country marred by economic instability and political unrest. At a time when many are grappling with anxiety over the future, humour becomes an outlet — a way to maintain mental equilibrium in a world where the stakes are always high. The memes are, in a sense, a collective release valve for stress and uncertainty, offering a momentary escape from harsh realities.
Despite its seemingly light-hearted nature, the reliance on memes is a form of resistance. Pakistanis, particularly Gen Z, are embracing a satirical stance towards the very real threats looming over them. It’s a refusal to succumb to fear and propaganda, opting instead to mock the idea of war itself — a cultural deflection against the forces that aim to manipulate national sentiment. The viral memes often carry an undertone of defiance, an expression of “we won’t be intimidated” in the face of those who wish to escalate the situation.
Yet, while this humor may provide relief in the short term, it does not diminish the severity of the situation. The reality is that the tensions between India and Pakistan have the potential to escalate into something far more dangerous. The use of digital humor, while a powerful tool for social cohesion, should not be mistaken for inaction or a lack of seriousness. There remains a fundamental need for de-escalation, dialogue, and a return to diplomacy.
The international community, including the United Nations and global powers like the United States and Russia, must do more to mitigate the current tensions and steer both nations away from the brink. The leaders of India and Pakistan must recognize the dangerous path they are treading — and understand that any military confrontation would have catastrophic consequences not just for the two countries, but for the entire region.
In the end, the memes are a reminder of Pakistan’s resilience — a testament to the country’s ability to find humor even in the most challenging of circumstances. But as much as humor is an essential part of how Pakistanis process adversity, it is also crucial that the reality of the situation is not lost in the joke. The time for satire will end, and the time for serious diplomacy must begin. Otherwise, the very memes that make us laugh today could soon be replaced with something much darker.
