INDIA’S leadership has made propaganda against Pakistan a habitual instrument of state policy. Without presenting credible evidence, New Delhi repeatedly levels baseless allegations against Pakistan, seeking to malign the country and poison the regional narrative. Despite being exposed time and again, the Indian leadership never seems to tire of churning out venom against Pakistan.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah recently claimed that security agencies have arrested more than 200 alleged terror operatives linked to Pakistan in a crackdown across 14 Indian States. He alleged that those arrested belonged to a group called the Shahzad Bhatti Network and claimed that the arrests had thwarted planned subversive attacks. Yet, as is often the case with such claims, no evidence whatsoever establishing Pakistan’s involvement was presented. Our Foreign Office very rightly rejected the allegations. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi termed the claims part of a malicious campaign against Pakistan aimed at securing narrow domestic political gains. He also rightly pointed to India’s own record of repression, terrorism and destabilizing activities, saying that unfounded Indian insinuations could not divert international attention from India’s conduct. The fact of the matter is that India consistently attempts to portray itself as the victim of terrorism, whereas its own record establishes that it is a perpetrator of terrorism. Pakistan has repeatedly shared evidence of India’s support for and financing of terrorist activities aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. India’s record of transnational wrongdoing has also come under international scrutiny, including the killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada and allegations linking Indian agents to the plot. It is time for the international community to take serious notice of India’s conduct. It must be held accountable for terrorism, subversion and transnational crimes. New Delhi’s propaganda may be repeated endlessly, but repetition does not turn allegations into facts. The world must look beyond India’s inflammatory rhetoric and demand evidence, transparency and accountability.
