THE revelations made by Brussels-based EU DisinfoLab group about the widespread Indian network of subversive activities vindicates Pakistan’s claim that New Delhi was massively engaged in 5th generation war against the country. An investigative report by the DisinfoLab, carried by BBC, said a dead professor and numerous defunct organizations were resurrected and used alongside at least 750 fake media outlets in a vast 15-year global disinformation campaign to serve Indian interests. It said the network was designed primarily to discredit Pakistan internationally and influence decision-making at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and European Parliament.
The scale and sophistication of the operation can be judged by the fact that identities and platforms of ghost and NGOs (including 10 accredited with the UN) were elaborately used to promote Indian interests and criticize Pakistan internationally. In Geneva, these think tanks and NGOs were in charge of lobbying and organizing demonstrations, speaking during press conferences and UN side-events and they were often given the floor at the UN on behalf of the accredited organizations. This shows how Pakistan became victim of hostile propaganda aimed at disfiguring its image in the comity of nations despite the fact that on most issues that the country has with India, Pakistan was on the right side and had a principled position. Apart from manipulating media forums abroad, India extensively used ANI, its news agency, for repackaging and boosting pro-India content of the fake operation to give credibility and a wide reach to the vested propaganda. According to the findings of the investigation, the disinformation network had a two pronged strategy to spread influence. In Geneva, the think-tanks and NGOs were in charge of lobbying and protesting and taking the floor at the UNHRC on behalf of accredited organizations and in Brussels, the focus was on the MEPs, who were taken on international trips and solicited to write ‘exclusive’ op-eds for fake outlets like EU Chronicles, which would then be amplified using ANI. The findings should serve as eye-opener for those who consider India as the largest democratic polity and upholder of principles that entitle a country to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. But these should be a source of concern for all targeted countries especially Pakistan and China that should join hands to expose designs. The issue should be raised consistently by all envoys of the country in foreign capitals besides agitating it on the platforms of regional and international organizations. It is at the strength of such powerful propaganda machinery that India has been painting the legitimate freedom struggle of Kashmiris as terrorism and feigning to be champion of human rights despite suppression of rights and interests of its minorities. Pakistan’s nuclear programme and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are also targets of the hostile propaganda campaign as there are confirmed reports that New Delhi has allocated billions of rupees for the purpose. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson has rightly said that the exposé of Indian disinformation campaign by EU DisinfoLab required global attention as India’s subversive activities against Pakistan had been ignored for too long but given the clout and influence of India, this would not happen automatically and our relevant ministries and agencies will have to work hard to sensitize the international community. Special attention should also be paid to documentation of Indian Government’s crimes against its Muslim population that is discriminated in every respect. Latest example is large-scale arrests of Muslim youth in India under the newly promulgated discriminatory and inhuman law, which penalizes members of religious minorities for marrying as per their own free will. It is also a matter of concern that at a time when India is manipulating the media so widely against Pakistan, there are unwise moves at home to clip wings of Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan. There is a price for lack of proper vision.
