May 12, 2025
By Asmatullah Niazi
Following the deadly incident in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 tourists tragically lost their lives, India swiftly placed blame on Pakistan within hours. Conversely, Pakistan vehemently dismissed these accusations as a “false-flag operation” orchestrated by the Modi government to gain political leverage in the upcoming Bihar elections.
Alarmingly, both nations attributed blame without any semblance of investigation. Pakistan extended an offer of cooperation to jointly determine responsibility, a proposal that was promptly rejected. India remained steadfast in its narrative and, on May 9th, initiated an air strike utilizing its recently acquired fleet of French Rafale war jets and drones, targeting various locations within Pakistan and claiming to have struck terrorist training camps.
Within a mere 24 hours, both countries engaged in the destruction of sophisticated weaponry valued at millions, if not billions, of dollars. This exchange also resulted in the tragic loss of numerous lives on both sides of the border, leaving hundreds displaced and without essential resources like shelter and food. This devastation stemmed from an unwavering adherence to narratives that served the interests of the ruling elites and potentially advanced their future political ambitions.
However, the primary casualty of this armed conflict between two nuclear-armed neighbors was undoubtedly ‘truth.’ Truth was swiftly overshadowed by a deluge of misinformation and fake news, a pervasive phenomenon in contemporary conflicts and political confrontations worldwide. It’s crucial to distinguish between misinformation, which is the unintentional sharing of inaccurate information, and disinformation, the deliberate dissemination of false information with the intent to deceive. Malinformation, on the other hand, involves the sharing of genuine information out of context or with the deliberate aim to cause harm.
We currently inhabit a post-truth era, where truth is actively challenged through calculated strategies designed to achieve predetermined objectives. Academics contend that this phenomenon is not solely attributable to social media but is deeply intertwined with the dynamics of power and its application. Dr. Farooq Sulehria, a Professor of Liberal Arts and Media at Beaconhouse University, aptly states, “The powerful forces that possess the financial, political, and authoritative means to establish dominance not only propagate falsehoods through social media but also blur the lines between lies and truth to such an extent that truth itself becomes indistinguishable.”
Dr. Taimur Ul Hassan, a Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Media and Mass Communication at the University of Central Punjab, believes that “the escalating hostility between India and Pakistan is rapidly approaching full-scale war, primarily fueled by fake news and jingoism propagated by Indian news channels. The Indian information warfare strategy relies on fabrications and manipulated visuals, with analysts actively cultivating war hysteria.”
The Indian media industry has witnessed substantial growth, reaching a valuation of $100 million. A significant portion of this is controlled by two influential billionaires: Mukesh Ambani, who owns a diverse portfolio of media outlets, and Gautam Adani, who commands a substantial share of the Indian media landscape, including the influential NDTV and a prominent news agency. Both these individuals are known supporters of Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), aligning with numerous other powerful business groups in India that exert considerable control and monopoly over the dissemination of information.
This recent conflict not only triggered alarm bells regarding the potential for nuclear war but also effectively suspended any prospects for dialogue, diplomacy, and mediation. This impasse arose as the leaders of both nations remained entrenched in their respective narratives, forcefully promoting them through compromised media outlets, journalists, TV anchors like Goswami, social media influencers, and former military personnel. This was particularly evident on the Indian side of the border, where television screens were saturated with warmongers and religious extremists.
Tahira Habib, a development sector and human rights expert, observes that “the unprecedented surge in fake news and false propaganda is further exacerbating an already precarious situation. In 2025, media optics reign supreme, and if the prevailing narrative is built upon falsehoods, it will inevitably destabilize the region rather than fostering peace and prosperity in both countries.”
The situation reached a disturbing nadir when Indian television channels broadcast anchors, self-proclaimed experts, and former military officers celebrating and announcing imminent attacks on Karachi port, the complete destruction of the operational seaport, and the Indian army’s incursion into Pakistani territory, claiming the capture of a significant settled area within Pakistan, among other baseless reports.
The Indian government, under Narendra Modi, has actively undertaken measures to shape public perception of the crisis, both domestically and internationally. These efforts include issuing media advisories, imposing content bans, and engaging in diplomatic messaging aimed at countering opposing viewpoints. India has also urged foreign media outlets to adopt the government’s terminology, even objecting to the use of the term “militant” in favor of “terrorist.” Furthermore, the government has blocked numerous Pakistani YouTube channels and restricted access to the social media pages of prominent Pakistani news organizations across India.
Rajdeep Sardesai, a respected and independent journalist, in his reflections last Friday morning, poignantly stated, “War is not a TRP-driven video game played out in a news studio. Journalism is not jingoism. Fiction cannot masquerade as fact. Breaking news should not shatter common sense; sensation must not eclipse sanity. Social media warriors should retreat to their digital bunkers. May you all have a blissful, calm, and peaceful Friday.”
In Pakistan, academics like Dr. Wajiha Raza Rizvi, while expressing deep concern regarding the India-Pakistan war situation, emphasized the need for vigilance when consuming news and headlines, given their often unverifiable and unreliable nature. She urged, “We must safeguard our citizens from becoming targets of India-Pakistan information warfare campaigns during this critical period. It is imperative to focus on developing and enforcing existing legislation to regulate the ethical and secure utilization of social media data.”
Throughout the armed conflict, fundamental regulatory laws were disregarded, and human rights were denied to civilians and visiting citizens, even those seeking medical treatment. Individuals who had established lives on either side of the border for economic or personal reasons were forcibly displaced. The decades-old Indus Water Treaty and the significant Simla Agreement were also suspended, ironically creating a potential pathway for full-scale war despite the US-brokered ceasefire.
The India-Pakistan conflict starkly illustrates the devastating consequences of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation in the digital age. The unchecked proliferation of fake news and jingoistic narratives through compromised media outlets and social media platforms can dangerously escalate tensions and propel nations toward all-out war. Experts urgently warn that the manipulation of truth and reality can have catastrophic repercussions, underscoring the critical need for fostering critical thinking, media literacy, and robust regulatory frameworks to prevent regional destabilization and promote lasting peace.