Faizah Gilani
An investigation carried out by EU DisinfoLab has uncovered a major global disinformation campaign working towards Indian interest, that has been active for 15 years and still running. The EU DisinfoLab is an independent non-profit organisation focused on tackling sophisticated disinformation campaigns targeting the EU, its member states, core institutions and core values.
The findings were published after Brussels based researchers uncovered the level of deceit and lies peddled from the network, and how it “resurrected dead NGOs at the UN”, manipulated the EU and pushed fake media content beyond South Asia, into the rest of the world.
Its executive director, Alexandre Alaphilippe said, “it is the largest network we have exposed.” The network’s fundamental base has been to “discredit Pakistan internationally,” as well as influence decision-making at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the European Parliament. China has also been targeted by the network, although not on the same scale as Pakistan.
But this is not the first time that EU DisinfoLab has exposed this network. Last year, 265 pro-Indian sites operating across 65 countries were unearthed, and traced back to an Indian holding company, the Srivastava Group (SG). In the recent report titled the “Indian Chronicles,” it has been identified how SG has been at the forefront of this network, which has now spread across 116 countries.
“During the last 15 years, and even after being exposed last year, the fact that this network managed to operate so effectively shows the sophistication and the drive of the actors behind the Indian Chronicles,” said Mr Alaphilippe.
The report not only highlighted the Srivastava Group’s role at the heart of the network, it has also identified ANI (Asian News International) as the propaganda peddler that reached out to a wider audience. It is also interesting to note that the Srivastava Group had arranged the controversial visit of Far-Right European Parliament Members to Indian Occupied Kashmir after the revocation of Article 370.
Apart from using hundreds of fake media outlets, the network was also successful in conducting demonstrations in Europe, which have been traced back to SG, and were also covered extensively by ANI, as well as fake media websites, also traced back to SG. The Srivastava Group has refused to make any comment over the report, whereas ANI has denied the reports findings and continues to refer to itself as “credible.”
Although the researchers have not established a direct link between Indian Chronicles and the government of India or its Intelligence Agency, it cannot be denied that India at the highest level has benefited from the activities of this network in maligning Pakistan on various international platforms. It would be worth waiting to see whether researchers at EU DisinfoLab uncover any such links in future, and there is every possibility that high level involvement is traced at some point.
The revelations within this report although shocking, do not come as a surprise. But what does come as a surprise is the manner in which organisations such as the EU and UN have been easily duped. Yes, this is a sophisticated and well thought out operation, but it still raises eyebrows over the competency level of EU and UN staff who have been misled by the Srivastava Group, despite findings from 2019’s report. It either means disinformation is not taken seriously enough or depends on origins of the perpetrator.
The reserved response to the findings most likely come down to the fact that India’s name is at the centre of a huge global scandal. While speaking to the BBC, Gary Machado, Managing Director of EU DisinfoLab said, “imagine if the same operation was run by China or Russia. How do you think the world would have reacted? Probably with International outrage, leading to public inquiries and probably sanctions.”
It is hard to fathom why no action had been taken following 2019’s revelations. This does not reflect well on international organisations and the global village at large, who appear to be selective in their outrage and condemnation over such issues.
It is the responsibility of both the EU and the UN to prove they are not toothless, and to fully investigate the matter followed by the appropriate steps. A penalty or sanctions need to be enforced in order to act as a deterrent for the future. Also, the international community cannot look on as mere bystanders. It is about time world leaders found their moral compass and took a stand instead of salivating over economic ties and trade.
Although Pakistan has been a victim of a major propaganda game, this is not just about Pakistan. This investigation has exposed the vulnerability of bodies such as the EU and UN, and how easily they can fall prey to such networks. Lack of action can prove to be dangerous in future and as Mr Alaphilippe rightly told the BBC, “This would mean that EU institutions are ok with foreign interference.”
But Pakistan now has a solid reference point to build a strong case. It would be highly foolish for the government of Pakistan to not place a foot on the accelerator. Now is the right time to demand answers from the EU and UN, and to pressurise them for a full investigation. Noise should also be made on the international stage, using every opportunity to flaunt the findings of this investigation.
The report consists of facts and not claims made by Pakistan. Everything has been carefully researched by an independent organisation; therefore, no questions can be raised on Pakistani links. Also, the issue of Kashmir must be tied into this network of disinformation and how it has hurt the case of Kashmir and also discredited the people’s justified right to self-determination.
By peddling propaganda, the network not only worked towards undermining Pakistan internationally, it also damaged the Kashmir cause in the process. This entire operation has effectively killed two birds with one stone. The government of Pakistan and its foreign office in particular, have a big task ahead.
Although Prime Minister Imran Khan was right to say that “the international community needs to take notice of a rogue Indian regime that now threatens the stability of the global system,” words need to take the form of action. Pakistan’s stance has been vindicated. But a great deal of work has to be done to challenge this outrageous network, as well as pulling weight behind its own narrative. The world is aware of this report. Now it is time for it to act upon those revelations, and Pakistan must not back down from here onwards.
