India-linked disinformation network targeting Pakistan exposed

A coordinated disinformation campaign allegedly linked to India and operating in collaboration with networks in Afghanistan has been uncovered, with analysts warning it was aimed at undermining Pakistan’s regional role and sabotaging peace efforts in the Middle East.

According to investigative findings, the campaign involved a structured and multi-layered operation using fake Iranian identities to spread anti-Pakistan narratives online. Dozens of accounts posing as Iranian users were reportedly being operated from India and Afghanistan, disseminating coordinated messaging designed to portray Pakistan as aligned against Iran and supportive of Western interests.

Experts say the operation followed a systematic “initiator–proliferator–amplifier” model, where narratives were first created and directed by India-based accounts, then spread and amplified through networks operating out of Afghanistan. Platforms such as “INN Iran News,” “Iran TV,” and “Times of Iran News” were identified as key hubs used to initiate and circulate propaganda globally.

The campaign allegedly sought to falsely accuse Pakistan of facilitating oil supplies to the United States, using the claim to fuel anti-Pakistan sentiment and deepen divisions within the Muslim world. Analysts warn that the broader objective was to damage Pakistan’s credibility at a time when it is actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.

Security experts described the operation as part of a wider information warfare strategy aimed not only at Pakistan but also at destabilising regional diplomacy and trust among key countries, including Iran and the United States. They cautioned that such campaigns could exacerbate tensions and potentially contribute to a wider regional conflict.

Officials and analysts emphasised that exposing the network highlights Pakistan’s growing global significance, while also underlining the need for vigilance against attempts to spread misinformation and erode public trust.