Paid Digital Services Used to Artificially Boost Content
New allegations have emerged about a coordinated online campaign targeting Pakistan through artificially amplified social media content.
A digital marketing service provider made the claims during an interview with senior journalist Waseem Badami.
The individual described himself as a facilitator who had unknowingly promoted content allegedly connected to India’s Research and Analysis Wing.
He said digital marketing companies commonly offer paid packages to increase followers, likes, views and overall engagement.
Clients provide links and account details before selecting the level of promotion they require.
Service providers then use specialised software and automated accounts to deliver the promised engagement.
The facilitator said his company also used an international payment gateway connected with banks in different countries.
Once a payment was confirmed, bots were reportedly assigned to selected posts and accounts.
The automated activity increased views and interactions within a short period.
However, these numbers did not necessarily represent genuine public interest or support.
Client Allegedly Spent Rs3.6 Million on Amplification
The facilitator claimed that an unidentified client first contacted his company in March 2026.
The client purchased packages covering views, likes and wider distribution across several social media platforms.
Around 15 days later, the same client allegedly placed additional orders.
The total value of the promotional services reached approximately Rs3.6 million.
The service provider said his team focused on completing the orders and did not closely examine the content.
He claimed the political nature of the campaign only became clear after Pakistani investigators contacted him.
Officials reportedly showed him the posts and other material promoted through his company.
According to his account, the content included narratives targeting Pakistan, its state institutions and the armed forces.
Some posts allegedly attempted to create the impression of widespread oppression and instability.
The campaign also included content related to Kashmir and other sensitive political issues.
The facilitator said large numbers of artificial views were purchased to make the posts appear popular and influential.
Authorities Receive Client Records as Investigation Continues
The service provider claimed he had handed the client’s information to Pakistani authorities.
The records may include account details, payment information, order history and communication data.
He also explained that virtual private networks can conceal a user’s visible internet address.
However, phones, computers and other devices can still leave digital evidence.
Investigators may use payment trails, login records, device identifiers and communication histories to trace coordinated activity.
The facilitator said investigators contacted him after reviewing the promoted material.
However, Pakistani authorities have not publicly released a detailed investigation report confirming the alleged RAW connection.
The identity of the client has also not been officially disclosed.
No information has been released about arrests, criminal charges or the number of social media accounts involved.
The allegations therefore remain under investigation and have not been independently verified.
Bots Can Create False Impression of Public Support
Artificial engagement has become a major challenge for social media platforms.
Bots can repeatedly view, like, repost or comment on content.
This can make a campaign appear more popular than it actually is.
Large engagement figures may encourage real users to interact with the same material.
They can also influence platform algorithms and push selected content toward wider audiences.
Research into social media manipulation in Pakistan has found that coordinated users and automated accounts can distort online trends and political discussions.
Such campaigns may combine bots with real operators to create a stronger appearance of public participation.
Experts say digital marketing companies must examine the accounts and content they are asked to promote.
Stronger identity checks and payment monitoring could help prevent legitimate marketing tools from being used for disinformation.
Social media platforms also face growing pressure to detect fake engagement and coordinated networks before they influence public debate.
