39 actual or notional, by obscuring it. Often, the best and simplest deception is the presentation of the truth but in such a form that the adversary disbelieves it. 3.26 It must be clearly understood that given today’s battlefield transparency, deception, in addition to surprise will be very difficult to achieve in the first instance; retaining the advantage that flows from it for an appreciable period of time will be even more difficult. For that reason alone this is one aspect which will require very thorough study, preparation and conceptualization. 3.27 Military deception operations are an inherent and expected responsibility of command at division level and above. It needs to be coordinated at the highest level to be effective and, should therefore, be indivisible from all other parts of the conception, planning and execution of military operations in peace and war. Deception ought to be intrinsic to and inseparable from all military thought and action, rather than a mere annexure, afterthought or an adjunct. The planning and practice of deception must be systematically integrated into devising a military strategy. 3.28 The process of deception is interactive and follows the sequential steps of planning, evaluation, coordination, integration, approval and execution. On completion of the last step of execution the situation needs to be re-analysed and process repeated, if required. The advent of IW offers unprecedented opportunities for deception operations in scope, effect and imagination. It is imperative that deception operations are planned as meticulously as actual operations, if not more. Deception plans may even be implemented by designated headquarters, supported by suitable allocation of resources. Nothing should be left to chance as an unfounded or unacknowledged assumption, supposition or assertion. Those charged with planning, approving, and executing deception operations, as well as the operators, must be absolutely adept in all the processes that these involve. Training and exercises should integrate the aspect of deception and appropriate resources should be instituted to develop and refine the art. “Modern technology provides battlefield transparency and hinders concealment; audacity of plans and speed of operations could be potent instruments to gain surprise”. – General NC Vij.