A coordinated disinformation campaign connected to India and operating alongside networks in Afghanistan has been exposed, with experts warning it aims to weaken Pakistan’s influence in the region and disrupt peace initiatives in the Middle East.
Investigations reveal the operation employed a complex, multi-tiered strategy using fabricated Iranian personas to disseminate anti-Pakistan content online. Numerous accounts impersonating Iranian users were reportedly managed from India and Afghanistan, spreading synchronized messages designed to depict Pakistan as opposing Iran and aligning with Western interests.
Experts note the campaign followed a deliberate “initiator–proliferator–amplifier” framework, where narratives were initially crafted and controlled by India-based accounts before being propagated and intensified through Afghan networks. Platforms such as “INN Iran News,” “Iran TV,” and “Times of Iran News” served as primary channels for launching and circulating this propaganda worldwide.
In a significant development, the campaign falsely accused Pakistan of facilitating oil shipments to the United States, using this allegation to stoke anti-Pakistan sentiment and deepen rifts within the Muslim community. Analysts warn the overarching goal was to undermine Pakistan’s credibility amid its active diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East.
Security specialists described the operation as part of a broader information warfare tactic aimed not only at Pakistan but also at destabilizing regional diplomacy and trust among key nations, including Iran and the US. They cautioned that such disinformation efforts could escalate conflicts and potentially trigger wider regional instability.
Officials and analysts emphasized that uncovering this network underscores Pakistan’s increasing global importance while highlighting the urgent need for vigilance against misinformation campaigns designed to erode public confidence and disrupt international relations.
