Global Spotlight Exposes India’s Disinformation Tactics After Pahalgam Attack

As the world demands facts over fiction, India’s narrative around the Pahalgam tragedy is collapsing under growing international scrutiny, exposing deeper efforts to deflect blame and suppress dissent in IIOJK.

The Indian government’s immediate attempt to blame Pakistan for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 28 people, is rapidly losing credibility. International analysts and observers are questioning New Delhi’s claims, especially in light of Pakistan’s repeated calls for an independent investigation — a request India declined.

Pakistan has firmly rejected the accusations, labeling them politically motivated. Islamabad insists that India is using such incidents to distract from domestic issues and intensify repression in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

This isn’t the first time India has used tragedy as political leverage. Back in 2020, the BBC revealed a massive 15-year-long Indian disinformation network involving over 750 fake news sites and organizations. The operation, exposed by EU DisinfoLab, aimed to tarnish Pakistan’s reputation globally and influence international institutions like the UN Human Rights Council.

Alexandre Alaphilippe of EU DisinfoLab called it the “biggest network” they had uncovered, designed specifically to manipulate global opinion and legitimize India’s controversial actions in IIOJK.

India’s hasty blame game has precedent. The 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing were both quickly pinned on Pakistan without credible evidence. In Pulwama’s case, the airstrike that followed led to military escalation, culminating in Pakistan shooting down an Indian aircraft and capturing Wing Commander Abhinandan, who was later released in a peace gesture.

Even Indian-appointed Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik revealed in an interview that Prime Minister Narendra Modi suppressed information about security failures and used the Pulwama tragedy for political gain.

India’s mainstream media has been widely criticized for echoing government propaganda and promoting war hysteria. Independent voices like journalist Ravish Kumar and actress Sonakshi Sinha have spoken out against misinformation, calling for responsible journalism.

International outlets such as Al Jazeera, BBC, and TRT World have also highlighted how Indian media distorts events, particularly those involving Muslims or Pakistan, often leading to retaliatory measures that harm civilians and stoke communal tensions.

The recent Pahalgam attack is being seen by many as another attempt to revive a familiar script. However, international resistance is growing. India’s refusal to allow an impartial probe has raised suspicions, especially when Pakistan’s peace-oriented stance — including participation in UN missions and AMAN naval exercises — is taken into account.

New Delhi’s strategy of information control and narrative manipulation is no longer going unchallenged. The “Indian Chronicles” and other exposés have shifted global opinion toward evidence-based accountability.