ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Evidence has emerged suggesting that India is orchestrating a systematic disinformation campaign through fake social media accounts posing as Pakistani citizens to malign Pakistan and damage its relations with friendly countries.
According to Kashmir Media Service, thousands of such accounts have been created and are being used to run coordinated campaigns not only against Pakistan and its institutions but also against brotherly countries including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Analysts say the objective is to create mistrust and strain diplomatic ties.
One such account, operating under the name “Ayesha Ufaq,” has been active since 2021 while presenting itself as belonging to a Pakistani user.
However, scrutiny of its past activity has raised serious questions about its authenticity.
Archived posts from February 26, 2021 show the account praising Indian Air Force pilots involved in the Balakot airstrikes, referring to them as “great heroes.” Observers say such statements contradict the stance expected from a genuine Pakistani account, further strengthening suspicions about its origin.
In addition, the account had earlier uploaded an image of a woman whose attire and surroundings did not appear consistent with Pakistani culture or environment. This further fueled doubts regarding the credibility of the profile.
After these inconsistencies were exposed, the account began deleting its older posts in an apparent attempt to erase evidence.
Despite claiming to be based in Islamabad, the account’s location remains vaguely listed as “South Asia,” raising further concerns about its legitimacy.
India spreading disinformation
Experts believe that such fake identities are being used to spread disinformation, create internal discord within Pakistan, and project misleading narratives internationally.
They warned that these tactics are part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy aimed at destabilizing Pakistan socially and politically.
Observers have called for greater vigilance and digital awareness among social media users to identify and counter such deceptive campaigns.
