Pakistan’s Dirty Games Exposed : Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) nexus, spearheaded by the Pakistan Strategic Forum (PSF), spread disinformation against India in the recent Israel-Iran-US conflict as reported by the Disinfo lab. The alleged motive was to divert international and local attention away from Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir’s clandestine but pivotal meetings in Washington D.C, even amidst missile attacks rocking West Asia. When tensions escalated following the US President Donald Trump saying on June 22 that America had attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities, pro-Pakistan social media accounts and propaganda networks started circulating a chain of unsubstantiated claims against India. This was done with a clear intention to deflect public discourse from General Munir’s behind-bam closed-door interactions with the Trump administration, CENTCOM officials, and influential US policymakers.What Were The False Allegations? A Breakdown
The fake news blitz cited by the Disinfo lab comprised several false tales intended to portray India as an abettor or conspirator of Israel and the US. This is what Pakistan’s ISPR network falsely alleged:
• Four RAW agents detained: Pakistan asserted it had detained four Indian RAW operatives on charges of collecting intelligence on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and sensitive defense locations. No credible proof or any official Iranian or international affirmation of such detentions has been seen.• India labeled a ‘terrorist state’: Propaganda messages labeled India and Israel as ‘terrorist states’, blaming them for evading responsibility while exporting international unrest.
• US bombers flew over Indian airspace: One of the most-popularly-reported claims is that US B-2 bombers flew from Guam, flew over the Andaman Sea and Indian mainland airspace, and made a strike against Iran. There is no flight path tracking, credible satellite information, or official reports to back this.• RAW-Mossad collaborative operations: Pakistan networks drove the narrative that RAW officers assisted Mossad in conducting assassination and sabotage activities within Iran, a narrative Iran itself never supported.
• RAW agents arrested in Iran: Certain propaganda sources also reported that Indian RAW operatives were arrested on Iranian territory for plotting against Iranian officials and providing intelligence to Israel. To date, there is no evidence or claim from Iranian authorities to substantiate this.• RAW provided Mossad with Iranian base coordinates: Another false narrative stated RAW provided Israel with coordinates of Iranian military bases and weapons depots for pinpoint attacks, without any evidence.
• India conspired with America against Iran: The story reported India actively supporting US aerial strikes against Iran, serving as a staging ground —once more, no reality exists.
• Iran hailing India during attacks: In a surreal turn of events, the propaganda alleged that while India was committing ‘betrayal’, Iran was ironically hailing India with “Jai Hind” slogans, a remark never uttered by any Iranian leader.
Key Motives of These Fake Claims
• Create an illusion of an India-Israel-US nexus plotting together against Iran.
• Portray India as an active co-belligerent in Israel’s attacks.
• Stir sectarian and regional tensions by showing India as betraying a fellow Asian country.
• Shift domestic focus in Pakistan away from COAS Asim Munir’s US visit.
• Establish Pak narratives over terrorism and warfare stances.
The timing of this misinformation coincided with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir’s clandestine but high-level trip to Washington. On June 18, General Munir was said to have a rare private lunch with President Trump at the White House, an unprecedented courtesy normally reserved only for heads of state or government. The visit came after CENTCOM chief General Michael Kurilla testified to the importance of Pakistan as a counter-terrorism ally. Moreover, the irony is that Islamabad’s role in sabotaging US efforts in Afghanistan while receiving 20 billion USD in aid.
Pakistan-Iran relations
Pakistan’s relationship with Iran is intricate. The two nations vie for dominance in Afghanistan. Pakistan takes pride in being the only Muslim-majority country with nuclear capabilities and is apprehensive about potentially losing that distinction. Additionally, there have been incidents involving attacks on Iranian security personnel by groups operating from Pakistan, which led to missile exchanges between the two nations in 2024. In the event of a conflict with Israel, Pakistan could help in isolating Iran. As Iran relies heavily on imports for its food supply, maintaining land trade routes is crucial, especially if regional conflicts obstruct access to ports in the Persian Gulf. There are five recognized trading posts along the Iran-Pakistan border, and there is also a significant smuggling of petrol and diesel from Iran into Pakistan. Furthermore, Iran provides electricity to the Gwadar port, located in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. On June 15, Pakistan declared the closure of its land borders with Iran, apart from allowing the return of Pakistani citizens, coinciding with General Munir’s visit to Washington. Back in 1965, during the Shah’s reign, Iran offered refuge to the Pakistan Air Force, but currently, Pakistan has closed its doors to Iran.
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The alignment between Pakistan and the Trump administration was likely developing for some time. It is noteworthy that during recent conflicts with India, Pakistan received a new commitment of 1.4 billion USD from the International Monetary Fund’s climate resilience initiative, in addition to the disbursement of 1 billion USD from its previous 7 billion USD agreement with the IMF, as the country grapples with a severe economic crisis. President Trump’s involvement also benefited Pakistan when Indian forces compromised Pakistan’s air defenses and targeted a critical site near Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi. Though the whole series of accusations is fake and diversionary. India already stated that it is not involved in the Israel-Iran rivalry and is concerned only about its energy security, regional alliances, and national interests. Pakistan’s ISPR nexus will keep endeavoring to drive their age-old narratives to deflect attention away from its deteriorating economic crisis and internal schisms, particularly in Balochistan and along the Iran border.
