ISLAMABAD: Following the failure of Operation Sandur, India has intensified its disinformation campaign against Pakistan through fabricated media reports and false propaganda, in what officials describe as an attempt to divert attention from its internal instability and growing extremism.
The latest incident came after an exchange of fire in Kot Radha Kishan, where 28-year-old businessman Sheikh Moeez was killed.
Indian media outlets falsely claimed he was linked to a banned organization, despite police confirming he had no ties to any militant group. Under the supervision of Kasur Police DPO Muhammad, a special investigation team was formed, leading to the arrest of one suspect, while efforts are under way to trace the remaining culprits.
Analysts said such false reporting reflects a broader pattern in Indian media since the collapse of Operation Sandur, with some journalists and officials engaging in daily fabrications to malign Pakistan. They noted that India’s propaganda network has been repeatedly exposed at international forums for manufacturing anti-Pakistan narratives and spreading misinformation.
Human rights assessments show that in 2023, India recorded at least 668 incidents of anti-Muslim hate speech, nearly 75 percent of which occurred in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states.
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh reported the highest numbers with 118, 104, and 65 incidents respectively. Many were tied to hate campaigns, conspiracy theories, and fake news narratives such as “Love Jihad” and “Land Jihad,” which typically intensified during election periods.
Investigations further revealed that one in every three hate incidents was connected to extremist groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, while 77 percent of anti-Muslim speeches took place in BJP-governed regions. Experts added that Islamophobic disinformation on social media also spiked during international crises, including the Israel-Gaza conflict, as Indian platforms amplified divisive content.
By mid-2025, more than 1,087 fake news cases had been documented in India, most of them targeting Muslims and Pakistan through networks such as WhatsApp, fueling communal discord and deepening polarization across the country.
