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The Minister for Science and Technology of Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Fawad Chaudry speaking at that the seminar titled “Indian chronicles: information weaponization against Pakistan”, held by the South Asia Strategic Studies Institute (SASSI) University on 11th of March, 2021, said that Pakistan has faced and still face a deliberate disinformation campaign by India as the dis-infolab clearly stated Information was weaponized to discredit it Pakistan. The spectrum of the threat faced by us far bigger than we anticipated, however, he highlighted that if we have our version of the truth it has to come out of a joint effort by pour institutions, our think tanks, and the state Ministry of information and state institutions such as the ISPR. A composite response is required because it is not merely information operations but the hybrid warfare and 5th generations war.
The domain for Pakistan’s identity we have to seize this now it is important to realize what Pakistan and India have contributed in the said domain. Pakistan’s counter to Indian propaganda has been insignificant. Pakistan does not require to launch a disinformation campaign on the same level of propaganda against anyone it only requires to generate its narrative to present to the world with Pakistani Nation sacrificing lives for so many years. He suggested that the ISPR and Ministry of Information should work in collaboration for the change of discourse narrative built against Pakistan in the international media to challenge the work of others.
The event focused on the disinformation campaign carried out by India for 15 years against Pakistan. Dr. Maria Sultan while commenting on the nature and character of the campaign carried out by the Indian state intelligence agencies against Pakistan stated that the operation included fake news development against Pakistan in more than 116countries and 9 regions of the world. what was significant was the fact that actual international organizations such as the UN and EU parliament, its members, and its mechanisms were hijacked by the Indian chronicles although more than 750 fake news outlets and more than 550 domain names which not only created an eco cycle around Indian information operations which were than amplified by the Asian news international fake news agencies that created this mass perception against Pakistan.
India formulated a campaign of weaponized information to vilify Pakistan’s efforts for human rights globally, which had begun in 2005 and is continued. For 15 years, India has constantly reported fake news, resurrected dead NGOs and think tanks to organize protests in Brussels and Geneva outside UN bodies. Asian News International (ANI) broadly propagated the malignant forums and their agenda on news media all under the Shrivastava Group in Ind.
The EU Disinfo Lab uncovered a network of 10 UN-credited NGOs that promoted Indian interests working in coordination with non-accredited think tanks and minority rights NGOs in Brussels and Geneva and local actors creating a disinformation campaign against Pakistan citing false atrocities in Baluchistan- leading to Baloch Liberation Movements and recipients’ perception. All this impacted the local actors and international actors, beliefs, and attitudes to malign and disparage Pakistan’s image globally. What is worst that actual actors, as well as students from Pakistani in the European capitals, were used to mask the real intentions and mechanism at play led by India, she stressed. Other panels such as Lt General Nasser Khan Janjua, former National Security Advisor of Pakistan argued that when he entered Baluchistan the 5th insurgency was at play but when he left through a policy of engagement, dialogue and development it was changed with love to Pakistan. Despite the issues of governance what needs to be understood is that it is our people and we can change the narrative only through action on the ground.
Lt. Gen Naeem Lohdi former secretary defense of Pakistan stated that Islamabad faced a hybrid war not of our doing alone but rather was how information was weaponized to create acts on the ground, a hybrid war for the future where the information domain either restricts or enhance the space for the state to redefine its space of operations. Mr. Shoaib Saddle former inspector general of police and federal Obudsman stated if we have to respond to this we will have to look at our laws very carefully but most importantly bring the actions of the Indian chronicles to question by taking the issue to the European courts, EU parliament, and the UN. The net effect of the impact of this cannot be quantified but the damage to Pakistan has to be seen only in the context of how it has impacted the human rights of millions of Pakistanis. The state has to take action and that it must be retired.
Mr. Mohammad Shahid director at the SASSI center for armament and technology, while technically commenting on the issuing state that Shrivastava Group which was the architect of this campaign had direct linkage to the Indian intelligence apparatus along with the key groups who amplified this. The second session of the seminar focused on what is required to change this Dr. Moeed Pirzada executive director of governance and policy Advisor stated that he faced all kinds of challenges because when you raise the issue on Indian involvement no one wants to challenge the dominant discourse but this has to change if we have to seize our initiative i.e. the Pakistani narrative, we have much to offer to the south Asian discourse he stated Islamabad can be declared as acknowledge city, we might have issues but none that cannot be addressed.
Mr. Hasan Daud Butt, chief executive officer (CEO) KP BOI, said that we may have faced a challenge of geopolitical nature as we fight to make Islamabad a new hub of economic change for this region. He said he has faith in the youth of Pakistan, they must take the lead for the future for our future must be owned by us. Ms. Fareeh Idrees senior anchorperson and director of media and communications studies (SASSI) commented that Pakistan must understand that Islamabad’s narrative has to be developed who will develop it why do we wait for the Indian chronicles for the issues to be highlighted. Unfortunately, the human rights issues and news from less developed areas are not picked up by the mainstream area because of the monetization issue and ratings. Do we need to have a different approach if we have to see human interest issues then the focus must be human but in the end, the future will be determined by our acts?
The sessions were moderated by Brigadier Mehboob Qadir, Director Forum for Africa and Middle East (FAME), Dr. Ziaul Haq Shamsi Pakistan Research Institute for Defence Education (PRIDE), and Mr. Asad Akram.
