By mid-2025, India recorded 1,087 fake news cases targeting Muslims, Pakistan
Islamabad: After the failure of Operation Sandur, India has launched a systematic disinformation campaign against Pakistan through fabricated media stories and false propaganda, aimed at diverting global attention from its internal chaos and rising extremism.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the latest example of India’s deceit surfaced after an exchange of fire in Kot Radha Kishan, where a 28-year-old businessman, Sheikh Moeez, was killed. The Indian media falsely linked him to a banned organization, despite police confirming that he had no connection with any militant outfit. Under the supervision of Kasur Police DPO Muhammad, a special investigation team was immediately constituted, leading to the arrest of one suspect, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the others.
Analysts said the incident reflects a growing trend in Indian media since the failure of Operation Sandur, with journalists and officials indulging in self-glorification and fabricating daily lies to malign Pakistan. The Indian propaganda machinery, they added, has repeatedly been exposed at international forums for spreading fake news and manufacturing anti-Pakistan narratives.
Human rights reports show that in 2023 alone, India recorded at least 668 incidents of anti-Muslim hate speech — nearly 75 percent of them in states ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh topped the list, with 118, 104, and 65 incidents, respectively. Many of these cases involved hate campaigns, fake news, and conspiracy theories such as “Love Jihad” and “Land Jihad,” which intensified during election periods.
Investigations revealed that one in every three hate incidents was linked to extremist organizations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, while over 77 percent of anti-Muslim speeches were delivered in BJP-ruled states. Experts said such propaganda also spiked during global crises, including the Israel-Gaza conflict, when Indian social media platforms witnessed a surge in Islamophobic disinformation.
By mid-2025, more than 1,087 fake news cases were documented in India, the majority targeting Muslims and Pakistan through WhatsApp and other online networks, fueling social division and communal violence.
