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News18
20-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
The Invisible War: Inside ISPR's Disinformation Campaign Against India
Last Updated: ISPR has specialised units for media campaigns, cyberattacks, deep fakes, and bot-driven misinformation to conduct hybrid warfare strategies As the dust settled over the Line of Control after India's swift and calculated military retaliation in Operation Sindoor, a different kind of battle was just beginning—one fought not with missiles or troops, but with tweets, deepfakes, and orchestrated outrage. At the heart of this battle lies Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)—a seemingly innocuous media wing of the Pakistan Army. But behind the curtain, ISPR functions as a digital war command center, orchestrating a hybrid warfare strategy that weaponises misinformation, bot networks, and psychological operations. As India struck terror camps across Pakistan and PoK, ISPR launched a digital counteroffensive. Using AI-driven bot networks and recycled war footage, they pushed out false claims of downed Indian jets, fake advisories urging citizens to stockpile supplies, and even accused India of staging attacks on its own soil, such as the Amritsar civilian incident. Fake victory claims flooded social media platforms, amplified by Chinese-linked accounts and Turkish state media like TRT World and Anadolu Agency. The aim was clear: create confusion, demoralise Indian citizens, and erode New Delhi's international credibility. Far from being a rogue actor, ISPR operates as part of a deeply coordinated strategy between the Pakistani Army and ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). The media wing handles digital propaganda, while cyber units conduct cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns, often targeting middle-class segments in India through low-paid influencers with large digital footprints. Indian Republic Day 2023 was one such battlefield. ISPR spearheaded the #26JanuaryBlackDay campaign—circulating doctored images and staged protests in Kashmir. The images were later proven to be edited or pulled from unrelated events, but not before gaining massive traction. Cricketer Shahid Afridi —a regular feature of Pakistan's 'soft power" diplomacy—was strategically deployed at the Wagah border and later in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stirring anti-India sentiments under the guise of peace activism. On the political front, figures like Khwaja Asif, Ishaq Dar, and even Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were instrumental in echoing ISPR's messaging. Their statements were promptly amplified across pro-Pakistan outlets like Al Jazeera, cementing false narratives into perceived truths. Perhaps the most chilling revelation is ISPR's long-term strategy of 'arming" the enemy's media space. Indian influencers like Jyoti Malhotra and others were reportedly approached by ISI operatives, not for immediate action, but to act as dormant assets, available to inject sensitive narratives or leak information at opportune times. This reflects a shift from episodic propaganda to sustained information warfare, where influence is planted and cultivated like sleeper cells in the information ecosystem. ISPR has honed its strategy of forming strategic partnerships with sympathetic media across the Islamic world, especially Turkish and Qatari networks. Through TRT World, Anadolu Agency, and Al Jazeera, ISPR's anti-India content finds a global audience, rebranded as 'human rights journalism" or 'geopolitical analysis." Their coordination with Chinese social media influencers and state-backed platforms further bolsters their outreach, creating an echo chamber of anti-India disinformation that thrives on digital virality and emotional manipulation. ISPR's role, thus, is no longer just about managing Pakistan's military image—it has become the spearhead of Pakistan's hybrid war doctrine, designed to exploit fault lines in Indian society, fracture global perception, and compensate for conventional military weaknesses. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 20, 2025, 15:16 IST
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First Post
18-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
How Pakistani ministers humiliated themselves and exposed their own lies on global media
Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani ministers have attempted to control the damage and also gain global support by presenting themselves on global media networks. However, they have faced a storm of national embarrassment not just over the country's continued support for terrorism but also for their gaffes on television read more Pakistan ministers have been running to global media since the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, intending to convey their governments' viewpoints, desperate to change the anti-Pakistan narrative growing across the globe. While it was understood that Pakistan would play a different narrative for its domestic audience, its ministers embarrassed themselves when they attempted the same on the global stage. The first major subject which they sought to highlight was that Pakistan no longer supports terrorists and there are no terrorist camps in the country. However, in the end they either contradicted themselves or ended up with mud on their faces. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an interview with Sky News, Pakistan's defence minister Khwaja Asif admitted that Pakistan had been harbouring terrorists on its soil. He mentioned, 'Well, we have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades.' He added, 'Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) doesn't exist in Pakistan anymore. It is extinct. It is extinct… if the parent organisation does not exist, how can the offshoot take birth here?' However, it is an open secret that the terror organisations, such as LeT, not only exist but are actively supported by the Pakistani establishment. Bilawal Bhutto echoed Khwaja Asif's views. In an interview with Sky News he mentioned, 'I don't think that it's a secret that Pakistan has a past as far as extremist groups are concerned.' He meant it no longer does. No one believed them. Pakistan's information minister Attaullah Tarar, questioned by Afghanistan-born journalist Yalda Hakim on Indian armed forces targeting terrorist camps, mentioned, 'Let me make it very clear, there are no terrorist camps in Pakistan.' She fact-checked Tarar with Khawaja Asif's statement on the subject in an interview with her itself on the same channel, as well as comments by Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto on the subject. He was left red-faced and stammering. Former Pakistan minister Hina Rabbani Khar walked out of a live debate being conducted by UK journalist Piers Morgan where Barkha Dutt was also present. When questioned by the host on the presence of terrorist groups on their soil, she responded, 'I would reject your last comment (on terrorist groups in Pakistan). Pakistan is the country which is trying to correct the wrongs.' When grilled by Barkha Dutt with details, she left the show, possibly ashamed at being proved wrong. The Pakistan army itself proved its ministers' comments on not supporting terrorism as lies when senior officers, including Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah, a Corps Commander, and Maj Gen Rao Imran Sartaj, amongst others, attended funeral prayers of killed LeT terrorists. The prayers were led by LeT leader Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a UN-sanctioned terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head. Terrorist coffins were draped in Pakistani flags, conveying they were accorded a state funeral, which even members of Pakistan's armed forces do not receive. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The second subject was an international investigation into Pakistan's involvement in the Pahalgam attack. Khwaja Asif, in an interview with Russian government-run RIA Novosti news agency, said, 'Let's find out who is the culprit and the perpetrator of this incident in India, in Kashmir; talk or empty statements have no effect. There must be some evidence that Pakistan is involved or that these people were supported by Pakistan.' Khwaja Asif subsequently claimed it was a 'false flag operation'. Shehbaz Sharif backed this claim by mentioning, 'Pakistan is open to participating in any neutral, transparent and credible investigation.' Not a single nation supported Pakistan's stand of not being involved. The investigations into the Mumbai terrorist attacks and Pathankot have yet to conclude; this would take a few lifetimes. At the same time, Ishaq Dar, who doubles as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, termed the terrorists who conducted the attack as 'freedom fighters'. It is only Pakistan which terms terrorists operating in Kashmir as freedom fighters. No wonder, not a single Western or West Asian nation heeded Pakistan's demand of joining an independent investigation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The third subject was on India's Operation Sindoor. On April 30, Pakistan's information minister Attaullah Tarar held a press conference at 2 am mentioning India will attack Pakistan within the next '24-36 hours', claiming 'credible intelligence'. Nothing happened for another week. He was left licking his wounds. Playing to his local audience at a rally, Bilawal Bhutto mentioned, 'Standing here in Sukkur by the Indus, I want to tell India that the Indus is ours and will remain ours. Either water will flow in this Indus, or their blood will.' Empty threats and a bunch of lies have been Pakistan's forte. There is nothing Pakistan can do on the Indus Water Treaty. India held the treaty in abeyance, not suspending it. On this, the World Bank has no role now. When questioned on their claim of Pakistan shooting down five Indian jets, their defence minister, Khawaja Asif, mentioned, 'It is all on social media and Indian social media, not our social media.' When quizzed further on proof, as social media is not evidence, he responded, 'I can't hear you properly.' Are these the qualities of Pakistan's famed ministers? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A similar statement was made by their Air Force spokesperson. As proof they displayed an image of an aircraft on fire, which was fact-checked to be of a fighter crash of September 2024. The story continues within Pakistan with no global backing. Shares of Rafale are the highest ever, solely because it was a success. Pakistan's permanent representative to the UNSC sought a closed-door session hoping to gain their sympathy and support against India, post Pahalgam. The entire incident backfired. The Pakistan representative, Asim Iftikhar, was grilled on the presence of the LeT on its soil. The next aspect was of the call for a ceasefire. Pakistan ministers, including its PM Shehbaz Sharif and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto, amongst others, refused to accept that they approached India, claiming it was Trump who brokered the ceasefire. India denied any such intervention. New Delhi's silence was enough. The world is aware that in panic, the Pakistan army chief, Asim Munir, called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asking for an intervention. He advised Pakistan to directly interact with India, which it did. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani ministers have attempted to control the damage and also gain global support by presenting themselves on global media networks. However, they have faced a storm of national embarrassment not just over the country's continued support for terrorism but also for their gaffes on television. Pakistan ministers' gaffes were an embarrassment even within the nation. Pakistan MP Zartaj Gul strongly criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for his recent appearances in international media, describing his behaviour as 'irresponsible'. She stated in the Senate, 'If you don't know English, don't go on international media… don't mock yourself; don't mock your government.' On the contrary, no Indian minister went on global media to brag or defend the Indian decision. That itself gave credence to its actions. In fact, Indian ministers were missing from the media. They were visible in meetings and discussions, never in the media. India did not thump its chest. Prime Minister Modi gave a message of response immediately after Pahalgam and promised retaliation. He made it clear that armed forces will determine the time, place and level. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was after Operation Sindoor that the PM resurfaced and sent a message to the world on India's 'new normal' on dealing with Pakistan and emanating terrorism in his national address. He stated the truth about Pakistan approaching India for peace out of fear, debunking Trump's mediation as also Pakistan's fake claims. It was after this that India's defence minister and the external affairs minister surfaced. India does not need to change global narratives; it already has international support. Pakistan acted like an immature child whose mischief is caught and is compelled to lie to save face. The author is a former Indian Army officer, strategic analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
BBC Asked Pak Minister, 'Do Terrorists Live In...?' His One-Word Reply
New Delhi: Pakistan does not shelter active terrorists or terrorist outfits, and those living in its territory "do not indulge in terror activities, either in Pak or across the order in India', that country's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif told British broadcaster BBC in an interview earlier this month. Mr Asif was speaking hours after India-Pak military tension spiked against the backdrop of the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir last month; the attack, in which 26 people, mostly civilians, were killed was claimed by a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned terrorist group that the India government has said operates from Pakistan soil and with support from the deep state. He was asked, on the record, if there were terrorists leaders or members of any terrorist organisation living in Pakistan. The Pak Defence Minister responded with an emphatic "no". Mr Asif also responded to questions about the United States belief Pakistan continues to allow terror groups - like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, which was behind the 2019 Pulwama and 2016 Uri attacks, in which 59 soldiers were killed - to raise funds through 'legitimate business'. "These (terrorism and terrorists) are things from our past..." Mr Asif began, pointing to the US' role in arming certain Afghanistan groups in the 1980s, during the Afghan-Soviet war. He argued that over the decades the US' hand in creating and arming 'mujahideen' groups, which were later reborn as terrorist outfits, was forgotten and Pak was left holding the bag. Among the outfits the US (and Pakistan too) had supported then included the Haqqani network, which had, and still has links with the Taliban and the Jaish and Lashkar groups. "The terrorists, which it is claimed that they are in Pakistan or their terrorist outfits are in Pakistan, they were allies of the US efforts in Afghanistan in the 80s. This thing keeps haunting us... that all these people who were actually our allies, or we were their allies... they're all 'dry-cleaned' now, but we are still 'dirty'. They still blame us for people who were their allies." "Who decides that your or me are terrorists or we are not terrorists?" "These (terrorist) leaders are no more... they are living, not dead, but do not indulge in terror activities, either in Pakistan or across the border in India or in any other country." This is the second in less than a month Mr Asif has acknowledged links between Pakistan and terrorists operating from its soil, and pointed to the US' role in fomenting those groups. Last month, three days after the Pahalgam attack, he was asked by British network Sky News about Pakistan's 'long history of... training and funding terrorist organisations?' To this he replied, "We have been doing this dirty work for the US for the past three decades..." READ | 'Doing Dirty Work For US, West...': Pak Minister Admits To Funding Terrorism India has repeatedly accused Pak of housing and protecting terror groups, and supporting cross-border attacks in J&K, like Pahalgam, Pulwama, and Uri, and also attacks in other parts of the country, including the assault on Parliament in 2001 and in Mumbai on 26/11. 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan has denied these charges despite a growing volume of evidence to the contrary - this includes links to terror attacks worldwide, like the 2005 London bombings. READ | Pak 'One Of World's Most Dangerous, Terror Trail In Moscow, London' And efforts to get the global community on its side have fallen flat too; after Pahalgam, for example, a closed-door consultation of the United Nations Security Council ignored Pak's complaints and asked tough questions about Lashkar and other terror groups continuing to operate from its territory. India underlined links between the Pak Army and known terrorists last week. In a special briefing after Operation Sindoor, the government pointed to 'state funerals' for some of the men killed in the Indian air strikes, men of whom it said there was proof of terrorist links. The government pointed out that senior Pak Army figures were present for the funerals.
News18
11-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Why Pakistan's Army, ISI & Leadership Threatened India With Nuclear Weapons
Last Updated: As the May 10 ceasefire ended the conflict, News18 spoke to defence and government sources on what the threats mean tanWhile India showed its might in both defence and attack during the 100-hour conflict which started on May 7, Pakistan, be it the Army, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) or leadership, kept threatening India with nuclear weapons. As India vowed justice after the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, defence minister Khwaja Asif had threatened India saying that if it dared to attack Pakistan, no one would survive. Pakistan Minister Hanif Abbasi had threatened nuclear retaliation, warning that Islamabad's stockpile — Ghori, Shaheen, and Ghaznavi missiles along with 130 nuclear warheads — has been kept 'only for India." India responded to Pahalgam with Operation Sindoor, precision airstrikes on nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), on May 7. Pakistan kept provoking India, only to be countered by New Delhi's strong defence systems each time. As the May 10 ceasefire ended the conflict, News18 spoke to defence and government sources on what the threats mean. nuclear threats act as a great equaliser, deterring India from exploiting this imbalance," said sources. Pakistan has developed short-range tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) such as Ghaznavi and Shaheen missiles to counter India. These missiles facilitate rapid conventional strikes. 'Pakistan's nuclear threats against India reflect a mix of strategic desperation, domestic instability, and geopolitical posturing. It is a calculated, but risky strategy to mask systemic weaknesses, sustain proxy warfare, and deter Indian retaliation," they said. #WATCH | India's Operation Sindoor Utilized BrahMos Missiles To Target Terrorist camps In Pakistan, Says Sources. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Inaugurated A BrahMos Missile Manufacturing Unit In Lucknow At 11 AM. #IndiaPakistanWar #OperationSindoor #RajnathSingh — News18 (@CNNnews18) May 11, 2025 ECONOMY, THREATS & CHINA Pakistan's economy is in freefall, with a $7-billion IMF bailout failing to stabilise inflation and debt. Baloch separatists, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and political opposition such as Imran Khan's imprisonment threaten the military's grip on power. The army establishment uses nuclear brinkmanship to rally nationalist sentiment and deflect blame. 'Escalating tensions with India create a rally-around-the-flag effect. The Pahalgam attack, linked to the Pakistan Army and ISI via a former commando of the Pak army and encrypted Chinese telecom equipment, suggests Pakistan's use of proxies like Lashkar-e-Toiba to destabilise Kashmir," said sources. Pakistan is dependent on China for military technology such as drones, missiles and diplomatic cover at the UN. ' Nuclear threats signal to Beijing that Islamabad remains a critical ally against India. By framing Kashmir as an Islamic cause, Pakistan seeks solidarity from Gulf states and Turkey, leveraging pan-Islamist narratives to offset isolation. The Pahalgam attack, ISI's role in shielding groups like LeT and its shadow group responsible for Pahalgam, The Resistance Front (TRF), and links to global terrorism such as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad hideout fall into the definition of a rogue state…AQ Khan's nuclear network, which is a supplier for Iran, North Korea, and the recent threats to sell nukes to other rogue states clearly suggest Pakistan's disregard for non-proliferation norms," he said. First Published: May 11, 2025, 18:29 IST
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Nuclear option
Islamabad [Pakistan], May 10 (ANI): Amid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khwaja Asif said that nuclear option is not on the table, but if a situation arises, the 'watchers' would also be affected. He made the remarks to Geo News. Dawn, citing Geo News, mentioned that the Pak Defence Minister said, 'I am telling the world that this is not going to be confined to the region only; it could be a much wider [...] destruction.' 'Our options are being reduced considering the situation India is creating,' he added. Sharing details, Dawn reported that he insisted that no meeting of the National Command Authority has been called. The National Command Authority is responsible for making the operational decisions on Pakistan's nuclear weapons. Tensions have been escalating between Pakistan and India after Pakistan caused a string of actions against India which were effectively responded to by the Indian armed forces. On Saturday in New Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasised that the actions being undertaken by Pakistan against India are being seen as 'escalatory' and 'provocative' in nature. He made the remarks during a press briefing, where proofs of Pakistan's escalatory and provocative actions were provided alongside exposing the lies being peddled by Pakistan. While speaking to media, the Foreign Secretary said, 'Pakistan's actions constituted provocation, escalation. In response India defended and reacted in a responsible and measured fashion.' Addressing a joint press conference by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence on Operation Sindoor, Indian Army Colonel Sofiya said that Pakistan's target was India's military infrastructure, LoC, IB and over 26 sites. 'Pakistan used high speed missile at 01:40 AM to try to hit Punjab's airbase station', Col Qureshi said. She added, 'In a condemnable and unprofessional act, Pakistan made the health centre and the schools at the Srinagar, Avantipur and Udhampur Air Force Stations as its targets. Because of this unresponsible act, the intent of Pakistan was yet again seen to target civil infrastructure'. In a decisive response to Pakistan's aggressive actions along the western border and Line of Control (LoC), the Indian Armed Forces on Saturday targeted critical Pakistani military installations, including technical facilities, command and control centres, radar sites, and ammunition strongholds. Col Qureshi stated that precision strikes were carried out on Pakistani military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, and Chunian, as well as radar sites at Pasrur and Sialkot aviation bases, using air-launched weapons from Indian fighter aircraft. She further noted that the precision targeting was done to minimise any collateral damage, reiterating India's commitment to not wanting to escalate the situation. (ANI)
