Pakistan has accused India of orchestrating a renewed disinformation campaign in collaboration with known terrorist figures, aimed at maligning its international image. According to official sources, the campaign is allegedly being directed by India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in the wake of India’s recent military and diplomatic setbacks.
At the center of the controversy is The Sunday Guardian, a media outlet with ties to India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The paper has come under fire for publishing multiple articles authored by Ehsanullah Ehsan — a former spokesperson for the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, and a key accused in the 2014 Army Public School massacre in Peshawar.
Security experts and Pakistani officials have condemned the platforming of a designated terrorist, calling it a gross violation of journalistic ethics and a dangerous move that risks legitimizing extremist narratives. “That a mainstream Indian outlet would grant a byline to a wanted terrorist speaks volumes about the extent of India’s disinformation strategy,” a senior Pakistani security official told the media.
Intelligence assessments suggest Ehsan is currently under the protection of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency (GDI) and is allegedly on RAW’s payroll — reinforcing Islamabad’s long-standing claims that India is waging hybrid warfare through proxies based in the region.
The Sunday Guardian, founded by former BJP minister M.J. Akbar — who resigned amid #MeToo allegations in 2018 — has a history of anti-Pakistan content. Analysts argue it is now being used to “weaponize counterterrorism narratives” to mask India’s strategic failures and discredit Pakistan internationally.
This development follows revelations from the 2020 EU DisinfoLab report, which exposed a vast Indian-backed network of over 750 fake media outlets operating in 119 countries to spread anti-Pakistan propaganda.
“The publication of terrorist-authored articles in Indian media reflects a continuation of the same disinformation playbook,” said a regional security analyst. “It reveals how far India is willing to go to destabilize Pakistan and distort global perceptions.”
The Pakistani Foreign Office reiterated the country’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism in all forms, while condemning India’s alleged use of Afghan-based networks to sponsor a new wave of violence. “Falsehoods, fabricated narratives, and propaganda will not mislead the international community,” said a spokesperson.
Observers warn that amplifying the voice of a globally sanctioned terrorist not only endangers Pakistan’s security but also undermines regional stability and the credibility of global counterterrorism efforts.
