In today’s world of global uncertainty and complex security dynamics, a nation’s strength lies not solely in its military or economic capabilities—but in the unity of its people and their trust in national institutions. Despite facing decades of internal challenges and external aggression, Pakistan has sustained its cohesion through three fundamental pillars: national unity, the Pakistan Army, and its core institutions.
This cohesion has not gone unnoticed by adversaries. India, in particular, has consistently attempted to undermine Pakistan’s internal stability through covert means. Employing propaganda campaigns, hybrid warfare tactics, and disinformation strategies, India has tried to erode public trust in Pakistan’s military and state institutions. These attempts reflect not only hostility but a deliberate strategy of destabilization.
India’s use of state-sponsored and proxy channels for narrative manipulation highlights a broader geopolitical aim: to disrupt Pakistan’s internal harmony and diminish its global standing. However, these efforts have largely backfired, as the Pakistani public continues to rally around its institutions, often responding with renewed resolve and national solidarity.
A stark example of India’s covert interference was exposed with the arrest of Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav—a serving Indian naval officer and operative of RAW (Research and Analysis Wing)—from Balochistan in 2016. His detailed confession, recorded before a Pakistani magistrate, provided undeniable proof of India’s direct involvement in sponsoring terrorism and insurgency in Pakistan’s sensitive regions. The episode dismantled India’s narrative of supporting democracy and human rights, exposing its true intentions before international observers.
India’s strategy today hinges on hybrid warfare—a combination of psychological operations, digital manipulation, fake news dissemination, and efforts to create discord between the Pakistani public and its institutions. But each attempt has met with resilient public pushback and has only strengthened Pakistan’s resolve to protect its sovereignty and unity. One of the most revealing investigations into India’s disinformation campaign came with the release of the EU DisinfoLab report in 2020. This landmark exposé uncovered a sprawling network of over 750 fake media outlets and hundreds of fabricated NGOs, all linked back to Indian sources. These entities were systematically used to flood international media platforms with anti-Pakistan narratives, targeting national institutions—especially the Pakistan Army—and portraying the country as unstable, authoritarian, and isolated.
The goal of this operation was twofold: to tarnish Pakistan’s image abroad and to erode public trust at home, particularly among the youth. By misrepresenting the actions of Pakistani security forces, fabricating stories of human rights abuses, and distorting facts about internal affairs, these campaigns sought to psychologically weaken the public, sowing division and undermining unity from within.
At the center of India’s propaganda has been a concerted effort to discredit the Pakistan Army, widely regarded as the nation’s most trusted institution. In every major crisis—be it floods, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, or border conflicts—the army has stood with the people, earning a level of respect and admiration that few institutions in the region command. India has persistently tried to erode this trust through a barrage of fake videos, doctored images, and false narratives, especially regarding military operations in Balochistan and the tribal regions.
These fabrications are often amplified by Indian social media networks, mainstream journalists, and political figures. During critical moments such as the Pulwama-Balakot standoff in 2019, Indian media went into hyperdrive—broadcasting exaggerated claims, celebrating imagined victories, and promoting a sensationalist narrative that quickly unraveled under international scrutiny.
Yet, these attacks have largely backfired. Rather than weakening morale, they have strengthened the bond between the military and the public. Pakistanis, both online and offline, have actively pushed back—debunking misinformation, rallying in defense of their institutions, and reaffirming their commitment to national unity.
India’s disinformation strategy has extended beyond the military, seeking to delegitimize Pakistan’s judiciary, intelligence services, civil administration, and constitutional bodies such as the Election Commission. These campaigns aim to portray Pakistan’s governance systems as corrupt or incompetent, thereby undermining public confidence—especially during periods of political transition or uncertainty.
Fake social media accounts, often operated from India or Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK), impersonate Pakistani users and spread false information about judicial decisions, military promotions, or political events—hoping to provoke unrest or civil discord. National celebrations like Pakistan Day (March 23) and Defense Day (September 6) are routinely targeted by coordinated cyber efforts meant to ridicule national pride and dampen public enthusiasm.
Despite these hostile attempts, such campaigns have repeatedly failed. In fact, high levels of public participation and engagement during national commemorations—both in-person and online—demonstrate a resilient patriotic spirit that refuses to be shaken.
Indian mainstream media has been central to promoting this narrative war. Channels like Republic TV, Times Now, and Zee News have abandoned journalistic neutrality in favor of hyper-nationalism and inflammatory rhetoric. These outlets often serve as echo chambers for government-sanctioned hostility toward Pakistan, spreading unverified claims, conspiracy theories, and openly advocating for punitive action—frequently without evidence or accountability.
Instead of informing their audiences, such media platforms have played a dangerous role in fueling public hatred and poisoning international perception. Yet ironically, these efforts often unite Pakistanis, who recognize the attacks for what they are: desperate attempts to sow discord and manipulate perception. The more aggressive the propaganda, the more resolute the public response becomes.
In the face of years of relentless attempts to fracture national cohesion, India has failed to break the bond between the Pakistani public and its armed forces and institutions. If anything, these efforts have exposed a pattern of obsession and desperation, attracting criticism from global think tanks and neutral observers alike.
Whether inside the country or across the diaspora, Pakistanis continue to demonstrate strong national pride, civic responsibility, and unwavering support for their military and state institutions—resisting foreign narratives and reinforcing the nation’s collective resolve. From flag-hoisting ceremonies in schools to youth-led defense awareness campaigns across social media, public participation in fostering national solidarity has continued to grow—especially in response to foreign propaganda. The rising national discourse around digital security, sovereignty, and hybrid warfare reflects a population that is not only more informed but increasingly resilient—refusing to be swayed by external narratives or disinformation.
Pakistan also remains the only beacon of hope for the oppressed people of Kashmir, consistently advocating for their right to self-determination on international forums. This commitment is what unsettles India—the truth that Pakistan speaks, and the mirror it holds up to Indian repression. Before recent escalations in Pakistan-India relations, adversaries may have assumed internal divisions would weaken the Pakistani stance. But the nation’s unified response shattered that illusion. The people, armed forces, and institutions stood side by side, demonstrating an unbreakable resolve—and reaffirming that Kashmiris stand with this unity.
Frustrated by its failure to divide Pakistan through conventional means, the enemy has now resorted to non-kinetic warfare—spreading chaos, disinformation, and divisive rhetoric. Even Azad Kashmir, long known as the base camp of the Kashmiri freedom movement, has become a target in this hybrid campaign to undermine national unity and sabotage the Kashmiri cause. Yet, the Pakistani nation is fully aware. We understand that our greatest strength lies in our unity, our armed forces, and our trusted institutions.
At this stage, identifying the enemy is no longer our challenge—preserving mutual trust and unity is. This internal cohesion is our most effective defense.
India’s ongoing attempts to fracture public trust in the Pakistan Army, national institutions, and collective unity are part of a calculated strategy to sow division and destabilize. But these efforts have largely failed, thanks to Pakistan’s enduring national consciousness, social resilience, and shared determination.
The Pakistani public recognizes that unity is not just symbolic—it is strategic. Trust in institutions is not born of blind allegiance, but from a deep understanding of what is at stake in an age of evolving threats. Far from weakening national morale, India’s propaganda war has backfired, triggering a renewed sense of cohesion among Pakistanis. It has reminded citizens of their common identity, shared sacrifices, a disciplined military, reliable institutions, and—above all—an unyielding spirit that continues to define Pakistan’s strength.
As long as Pakistanis continue to stand united — across ethnic, sectarian, and political lines — no external force, no matter how well-funded or deceitful, can break the backbone of this nation. And it is this unity, forged in fire and preserved with faith, that ensures that Pakistan will always remain Zinda o Painda (alive and flourishing).
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.