ISLAMABAD: A coordinated disinformation campaign allegedly targeting Pakistan and its regional peace efforts has been uncovered, with analysts claiming the operation involves actors linked to India and Afghanistan.
According to findings by experts, a structured propaganda network was used to spread anti-Pakistan narratives, particularly during ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The campaign reportedly aimed to undermine Pakistan’s diplomatic role and portray it as aligned against Iran and supportive of Western agendas.
Investigations suggest that fake Iranian identities were created on social media platforms to generate hostility toward Pakistan. These accounts allegedly pushed fabricated claims, including accusations that Pakistan was supplying oil to the United States, fueling anti-Pakistan sentiment.
Experts revealed that dozens of accounts posing as Iranian users were in fact being operated from India and Afghanistan. According to the analysis, Indian-based accounts were primarily responsible for crafting and directing the narrative, while Afghanistan-based networks played a key role in amplifying and spreading the content.
The campaign reportedly followed a systematic “Initiator → Proliferator → Amplifier” model, where coordinated messaging was gradually expanded to give false information the appearance of authenticity.
One platform identified as a central hub in the operation, “Times of Iran News,” was allegedly operating from India and actively disseminating misleading content on a global scale.
Analysts warn that the objective of this disinformation effort was to damage Pakistan’s image, disrupt its peace initiatives in the region, and create divisions within the Muslim world. They added that such information warfare could potentially escalate tensions and hinder diplomatic efforts amid an already volatile regional environment.
Experts further stated that the exposure of this network highlights Pakistan’s growing global significance and the challenges it faces in countering hybrid threats. They emphasized the need for vigilance, both at the institutional and public levels, to counter attempts aimed at spreading distrust and instability.
The findings underscore concerns that coordinated information warfare by India and Afghanistan poses a direct challenge to regional peace, diplomacy, and stability.
