Sikandar Noorani
RECENT visit of Pak Foreign Minister to the UAE has drawn extra-ordinary attention of Indian media for no good reasons. Traditional fact twisting seems overtaking the spirit of authentic reporting in top Indian media houses. Sane quarters rightly feel hesitated in believing any matter reported about Pakistan on Indian media. This impression amply strengthened with recent eye opening disclosures made by EU Disinfo Lab in its remarkable investigative report on Indian fake media operations specifically aimed at Pakistan. Despite this shameful disclosure, India continues to bluff and mislead the world through deceitful media campaigning. A well thought-out narrative is being spread by Indian media houses that Pak bi-lateral ties with Arab world are worsening with each passing day. Initially, Indian fabricated rumours targeted Pak ties with KSA by twisting facts about Kashmir issue and economic matters.
Later on, Indian media pundits threw a spanner about recognition of Israel to intensify the Pak-centric propaganda campaign. There has been persistent proliferation of false stories about Saudi pressure on Pakistan to follow the suit on recognition of Israel. Despite clear and credible denial from both sides, Indian media still maintains a poisonous stance on Pak- Saudi relations in absolute contradiction to ground realities. When the UAE imposed visa restrictions as part of anti-covid measures, India got another opportunity to project it as an exclusive act of displeasure against Pakistan. Issue of Israel’s recognition was again kept at the centre of whole campaign to generate the impression of Pak isolation in Arab world. False narratives woven precisely to exploit Pak economic deterioration and resultant dependency on the Gulf countries.
Indian real intent to isolate and discredit Pakistan is too obvious to hide. Modi regime’s uncontrollable desperation to beat Pakistan in every corner of the world rapidly transforming into a major challenge on external and internal fronts. Impartial quarters had a shock once EU Disinfo Lab revealed that India kept befooling the UN and EU platforms through 24/7 feeding of fabricated news. Undoubtedly, a diplomatic ascendancy over Pakistan has always been the prime objective of Indian establishment which is not possible without fact twisting and fabrication of false narratives. In order to shroud the inhuman conduct in IIOJK, rulers sitting at the helm of affairs in New Delhi prefer using the blanket of lies and allegations. Vast potential of Indian market also provides suitable opportunities and wider manoeuvring space for proliferation of state’s narratives. India can never tolerate any reference made or voice raised for oppressed masses of Kashmir by the Gulf countries. India made multiple moves to gain formal ingress in OIC with an obvious aim to influence the opinion of the Muslim countries over Kashmir issue and Muslim persecution.
In this age of rapid information flow, it became quite difficult for India to hide the real plight of the minorities in the hands of Hindu extremist cults. Media propaganda is such a tool, which enables an inhuman state like India to portray itself as a flag bearer of democracy and secularism. Pakistan, despite being in front line against terrorism, was labelled as sponsor of cross border terrorism by none other than India. While being harsh against the Muslims at home front, India never missed a chance to gain ingress in the Muslim world through cunningly framed diplomacy and, above all, proliferation of fabricated stuff. India seems in no mood to learn any lesson or mend its unwise ways after shocking disclosures of EU Disinfo Lab. Recent false reporting over Pak Foreign Minister’s important visit to the UAE is another undeniable proof of media onslaught by India.
There was meaningful jubilation in Indian media camps about inclusion of Pakistan in the list of countries placed in visa ban list by the UAE. This development was projected as a major diplomatic victory of India over Pakistan. Knowing fully well about the importance of Foreign Minister’s visit to the UAE, notorious Indian media outlets kept the guns aimed at Pakistan. An impression was generated that UAE is expressing concern over Pak refusal to recognize Israel. Return of Saudi soft loan by Pakistan was twice played as a sign of bitterness and serious bi-lateral disagreements. Word twist may not properly reflect the true expression of Indian propaganda campaign. Reports on foreign Minister’s UAE visit were 180 degrees opposite to the real facts. UAE Foreign Office made it clear that visa restriction is a temporary measure to curtail the spread of Covid.
This news was reported as total denial of visas to Pakistan by the UAE. Pakistan encountering multiple damages on diplomatic front due to vigorous Indian propaganda. Serious disclosures surfacing from credible international sources about Indian fake media propaganda and false reporting of twisted narratives must be taken as a potent threat to national security. This serious issue needs to be solved through joint efforts of political stakeholders and national institutions. All diplomatic channels should be activated across the world to restore the credibility of Pakistan. Besides this, leave no stone unturned in exposing the real cunning and hypocritical side of India. Prevailing diplomatic challenge must be pursued on war footings without wasting further time.
—The Islamabad-based writer is a retired army officer and occasionally contributes to the national press.
